Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports

Toolbox Talk

Active Wildlife Management at Airports

The key to conducting active wildlife management at airports is to maintain separation between aircraft and wildlife by harassing wildlife away from airside areas.

Remember, you are the predator. Wildlife must recognise you as a threat to their well-being for you to be effective.

Wildlife Strike

Financial cost:

• US$1.2 billion per annum (commercial civil)

• Human and aircraft cost:

In Australia:

• Two human fatalities from a single incident (Evans Head 1977).

• Mandatory reporting since 2003.

• 15,850 strike between 2003 to March 2014 (most common incident for ATSB.)

297 human

fatalities

120 aircraft

destroyed

60 incident

s

Identification and Communication of Hazards

• Wildlife hazards should be assessed as part of your serviceability inspections, wildlife patrols, runway inspections, and wildlife counts.

• Where a hazard is identified, you should address through active management or communicate the hazard to ATC or pilots.

• You may need to use the ATIS, a NOTAM or a Birdwatch Condition Report to adequately communicate the hazard.

• If a wildlife strike occurs, complete a strike report form with as much detail as possible. The form must be sent to ATSB within 72 hours of the incident.

Active Management Guidelines

• Concentrate your efforts on early morning, later afternoon, and after rainfall.

• Do not allow settling wildlife to feed in order to discourage regular visitation.

• Prioritising areas requiring dispersal should be based on airport operations, aircraft movement activity, and the distribution of high and moderate risk species.

• Position of the wildlife controller should ensure that the wildlife are encouraged to fly/move away from aircraft movement areas and not across them, unless there is some over-riding reason.

• Focus on manoeuvring areas.

• Use a variety of various tools and techniques to prevent habituation.Area To be excluded Times to be excluded

Runways, flight strips, undershoots All wildlife At all timesAdjacent flight strips (incl. taxiways and aprons)

High risk species At all times

Moderate risk species At all times

Low risk species Prior to RPTsRemaining airside areas High risk species At all times

Moderate risk species Avoid making part of daily routine

Low risk species Low numbers tolerated

Weapons• Do not load firearm until ready for use.

• Ensure firearm is not loaded prior to and on completion of shooting.

• Stow firearm safely in case or toolbox.

• Stow ammunition separately in safe place until returned to designated

storage facility.

• Work in accordance with your airport’s standard operating procedures.

• Wear PPE including hearing and eye protection.

• Pyrotechnics must be used carefully for maximum effect. The best

approach is to: carefully select shots use a minimum number of shots ensure that shots explode very close to the birds use pyrotechnics in conjunction with other deterrents.

• Care should be taken in dry conditions as pyrotechnics may be a wildlife

risk.

• The user of pyrotechnics should always be positioned between the flock

and runways to avoid sending birds across aircraft flight paths.

Carcass Handling: Zoonotic Disease/Bacteria

• Wear appropriate PPE including long sleeves and trousers, disposable

coveralls, safety boots and eye, mouth and hand protection.

• Ensure vaccination is current for applicable disease such as tetanus,

Q-Fever and Lyssavirus.

• If exposed, wash area immediately – where skin is broken apply

antibacterial product and seek medical attention.

• Medical attention should be immediately sought if exposed to an animals

blood, saliva or excreta through the eyes, nose or mouth.

• Collect the carcass and place in sealable plastic bag, ready for transport

to the required location (e.g. designated wildlife specimens freezer). Take

care not contaminate the outside of the bag to ensure that biological

materials do not contaminate your clothes or work area.

• Remove and dispose of gloves, coveralls and mask.

• Disinfect any equipment that came into contact with the carcass or other

biological materials.

• Wash hands with soap and water.