Page 6 - AAPT March 2019

Wildlife Collisions with Aircraft

and Detection Technologies

The consequence of wildlife strikes with time and pre-emptive communication
aircraft can be very serious. Worldwide, keeps aircraft out of the way of the
in civil and military aviation, fatal bird wildlife. But this is only effective with
strike incidents have resulted in 450 the use of reliable detection tools so
human fatalities and 500 aircraft losses that information about the hazard
since aviation commenced, most of can be conveyed to the pilot in a
those within the last 30 years. Wildlife timely manner. This allows the pilot
strikes cost the commercial civil aviation in command to assess the risk and
industry an estimated US$1.2 billion respond accordingly.
per annum and involve more than just The technologies currently used
the repair of damaged engines and for wildlife detection in aviation is
airframes. very limited, especially in Australia Radars can be used to detect
The wildlife strike risk is mitigated despite wildlife strikes being the most wildlife, including flying-foxes, in the
by applying: frequently reported aviation incident. vicinity of aerodromes. Modern radar
• Engineering approaches: designing Hazard detection depends largely on units offer a user-friendly interface but
impact resistant aircraft. optical instruments such as binoculars need specialist assistance with data
• Active management: dispersing, and scopes which have a limited field interpretation. Radars can be limited in
trapping, relocating, or removing of of view, range and functionality during range and have blind spots which can
wildlife away from aircraft flight paths. lowlight or night-time. Despite the be overcome by careful placement,
• Passive management: reducing limitations, these options are readily using mobile units or establishing an
wildlife attractants (e.g. food, water, available and low cost. integrated network of strategically
shelter, roosting, breeding) on or in New technologies such as active or placed units.
vicinity of airfields. passive radio assisted detection and There are fully automated detection
• Real-time and pre-emptive ranging signal (RADARS), Infrared systems hybridised with infrared and
communication to pilots. Radiation (IR), modern high-powered electro-optical scanners that can detect
While active and passive and high-resolution optics or electro- individuals and flocks of birds that are
management moves or keeps the optical scanners significantly enhance utilising the airspace on ground at any
wildlife out of the way of the aircraft, real- wildlife detection. time of the day.
Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems
(RPAS) have evolved and are now
used for wildlife detection and surveys.
They can be a useful detection tool
if used strategically by licenced
operators. With the benefit of optical
imagery, videos, and newly developed
computer algorithms, RPAS efficiency
for capturing wildlife data will increase.
These developing technologies are
an additional tool for wildlife detection
and should be included as part of
broader management programs. They
are complementary rather than a silver
bullet or new paradigm in aviation wildlife
risk mitigation. Accurate data capture by
the technology and translating it into
useful information will need aviation
wildlife risk mitigation expertise and
well-trained personnel.
Ronel Jit
Principal Environmental Scientist – Avisure

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