4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 1
BIRDSTRIKE RISK MANAGEMENT
Nick YearwoodNick Yearwood UK CAAUK CAA
Aerodrome Strategy & StandardsAerodrome Strategy & Standards
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 2
BIRDSTRIKE RISK MANAGEMENT
Recent events
Information sharing
High risk birds
Bird populations
Reporting
Data quality, analysis & trends
Harmonised recording
EASA actions
Stakeholder engagement
Off-Airport
SMS & HF
Technologies
NAA Safety Plans & Initiatives
Birdstrike Committees
The future
Lessons learned
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 3
RECENT EVENTSNov 2008 Ryanair B737-800 landing at Rome Ciampino - Flock of starlings
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 4
RECENT EVENTS
Jan 2009 USAir A320 take off from La Guardia - Flock of Canada geese
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 5
RECENT EVENTSSimilarities - Both incidents occurred ‘off ’ airport, but were they predictable? (known rising populations of geese and well publicised habitat issues with millions of starlings in Rome)
Would either event have been influenced by effective on-airport bird control?
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 6
RECENT EVENT (INFORMATION SHARING)
FAA releases birdstrike data into the public domain
Should ICAO, EASA & NAAs also now consider information sharing in the public domain?
Stakeholders need access to data
Regulators cannot sit on safety data
Would withholding data pass the public interest test?
FOI requests (UK)
Should stakeholders consider publishing their own data, provide context and narrative to improve understanding?
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 7
HIGH RISK BIRDS (MULTIPLE-LARGE-FLOCKING)
Increasing populations
Bird conservation, wetland restoration, climate & food source
Require special mitigations - State intervention
Bird intelligence & special control measures –particularly off airport – land usage
In 2001, UKCAA guidance highlighted risks to aircraft – “Large flocking birds – an international conflict between conservation & air safety” (caa.co.uk)
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 8
BIRD POPULATIONS
Changes to national bird populations and migratory patterns - is there a correlation between changes in bird populations and changes in the number of strikes by certain species?
Are Conservation & Environmental Organisations sharing information with Regulators & Govmt Agencies?
Who is looking at the indicators – and the bigger picture?
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 9
MANDATORY REPORTING
Mandatory Birdstrike reporting (MBSR) should be aimed at all stakeholders in order to gather more data
How should regulators ‘police’ MBSR? (SMS auditing)
Some EU MS have dual reporting systems, mandatory for CAT and voluntary for GA – can this work?
More data & information is positive, but crucial to reporting is the quality of data being providedquality of data being provided
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 10
REPORTING OF STRIKES BY FOREIGN AIRCRAFT OPERATORS
Despite mandatory reporting, UK data indicates just 20% of strikes in the UK reported by non-UK carriers – but 50% of these by just one carrier
According to FAA/USDA data - approx 2% of all strikes reported in US are reported by non-US carriers – majority of these are Canadian carriers
Why foreign carriers are not reporting to the state where the strike took place needs to be investigated
Could ECCAIRS help facilitate information exchange between NAAs?
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 11
EASE OF REPORTING
Online reporting systems are desirable, providing easy access for majority of stakeholders and standardisation of reported data
UK roll-out 1/1/2008, combined with mandatory reporting, the number of strikes reported in the UK 2003-2008 increased by 50%, majority of the increases shown to be reports submitted by aircrew/pilots
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 12
DATA QUALITY
Vital for the purpose of establishing accurate hazard severity indicators & risk assessmentToo many “unknown” elements within existing dataAccurate species ID is the keyAccurate species ID is the key to improving the quality of data and understanding birdstrikesImproved risk assessmentHow can NAAs assist stakeholders to improve the quality of data being reported?
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 13
DATA ANALYSIS & TRENDS
Mandatory reporting will increase the number of reports involving non-hazardous strikes – this should be considered positive - pointing to increased awareness and improved reporting culture – but underlying trends need to be assessed too
Are near miss and unconfirmed strikes being recorded and analysed for trends?
UK data: serious strikes vs 10k/ ATMs no increase last 10yrs – despite MBSR
Analysis to identify trends of strikes vs bird populations is required in order to establish links
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 14
DATA ANAYSIS & TRENDS
Releasing raw BS data can be misleading, interpretation requires specialist understanding of bird species (and size) vs risk vs aircraft movements
Without knowledge of species risk, the ranking of airports by the number of strikes is highly misleading, and has the potential to cause reputational damage to the stakeholder
“which is the worst airport, the one reporting 100 strikes per year, or the one reporting just 5”?
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 15
UK BIRDSTRIKE NUMBERS
Rolling Average: All Birdstrikes & MORs
0200400600800
100012001400
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
All
Bird
strik
es
45
50
55
60
65
MO
R B
irdst
rikes
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 16
HARMONISED RECORDING PLATFORMS
Joined up approachICAO (IBIS)
EASA Local NAA databases But who “owns” the data and are there any legal
blocks to sharing?
(ECCAIRS)
Standardise and harmoniseAssimilate dataInformation outputs as well as inputs Information exchange between MS
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 17
EASA ACTIONS ON BIRD STRIKES
EASA Paper 2008 – Bird Population Trends and their impact on aviation safety 1999-2008
Concluded – Birdstrike Certification Reqs for light a/c & small helicopters should be reviewed
Following the 2008 paper EASA commissioned a study “bird strike damage & windshield bird strike” to report by Nov 09
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 18
EASA ACTIONS ON BIRD STRIKES
Aim of study:
to review existing bird strike requirements (excluding engines) across all aircraft airworthiness codes (aeroplane and rotorcraft)
determine adequacy, both in scope and level of protection offered, to meet current and foreseeable bird strike risks (may lead to revised Aircraft CS)
Future rule making may use Annex 14 as the basis for future BS reporting requirements (or guidance –as yet unknown)
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 19
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTAirports play both proactive and reactive roles –SMS, hazard ID, off-airport intelligence gathering, risk assessment, management plans, policies, procedures, personnel competencies & training, equipment, tools, technologies, then post event birdstrike ID
But what can airlines do? Some UK carriers are now proactively engaged with birdstrike risk – conducting airport bird management audits
Engagement via flight safety committees
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 20
OFF-AIRPORT
Bird attractants, habitats & populations ‘in the vicinity’need to be assessed as part of airport birdstrike risk assessment and eliminated or controlled and mitigated where practicable
Requires cooperation and coordination with land-owners, local government and planners – may result in planning controls
Liabilities of land-owners may become an issue
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 21
SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Total system approach to birdstrikes
Common requirements across domains
Birdstrike risk must be embedded into an organisational SMS, enabled by a strong safety culture
All airports must have management plans, demonstrating risk assessment methodology
Regulator SMS Audit against the Management Plan
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 22
HUMAN FACTORS
Airport & Wildlife Personnel – Skills & CompetenciesStaff Training - On-going & Continuous Development & Assessment, MonitoringStakeholders education and awareness via Airline & Airport Flight Safety Committees & BSCs.Familiarity with reporting and recording systemsAdherence to common requirements, and local operating proceduresManagement accountability, oversight & audit
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 23
TECHNOLOGIESPost USAir – rush towards avian radar as the panacea but further trials are needed at CAT airports to assess tactical & operational capabilities and integration with air traffic control
To early to assess whether avian radar information can be used tactically
But who pays - Airports, ATC, NAA or the State?
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 24
LIABILITIES
UK - 1973 landmark case
Airport failed in its duty of care,
“defective system” for aerodrome bird control
plaintiff awarded damages $750k for cost of a/c write-off
Airline operators may seek to recover costs of damage and disruptions from airport operator
Ryanair’s case vs ENAC thrown out by Italian Regional Court
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 25
SAFETY INITIATIVES AND ACTION PLANS
Does Birdstrike Risk have sufficient priority in national and international safety plans?
ICAO, EASA – ESSI & ECAST, Eurocontrol
Consistent with MS NAAs?
FAA Safety Programmes?
Review of Birdstrike related Accidents/Incidents international & nationally – data driven safety plans
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 26
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL BIRDSTRIKE COMMITTEES
ICAO Recommendation
Forum for Regulator & Stakeholder information exchange & data sharing, best-practice and lessons learned
Use as consultative group - shaping future regulatory policy with stakeholders engaged
IBSC - USA/Canada BSC - UKBSC & some EU MS BSCs (but not all)
Formation of EU Birdstrike forum is requiredFormation of EU Birdstrike forum is required
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 27
THE FUTURE
New technologies (Avian Radar & Lasers) need to be trialled, tested and embedded into mitigation programmes
Existing & traditional bird control methods may be just as effective, but look for improvements
Stakeholders need to focus on bird hazard mitigation both on and, increasingly, offoff--airportairportBetter quality of report data is needed- greater % of species ID – reduce the Unknownsreduce the UnknownsImprove Information sharing between all stakeholders
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 28
THE FUTUREIncreasing air traffic
Increasing bird populations – Management is needed
potential for increased birdstrike collision risk
Increased costs for damage & disruptions
Improvements to Aircraft/Engine Certification Standards (particularly for GA & rotary a/c) required
Data driven SMSSMS - risk based, assessment & auditing
Strengthened stakeholder engagement on a national and international basis
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 29
LESSONS LEARNED?As far back as 2000 UKCAA presentation to FSF said:It is clear that;
The rate of encounters (with SG & CG) is increasing, and that;Urgent action is required to prevent a catastrophic outcome from this single causeThreat from large flocking birds is increasingCan only be resolved by urgent and effective management of the goose population
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 30
LESSONS LEARNED?We suggested that;It is clear that additional measures need to be taken in order to bridge the gap between engine capability and the threat.These measures must be aimed at managing the managing the population of large flocking birds.population of large flocking birds.
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 31
CAN STAKEHOLDERS DEMONSTRATE THEY ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO MANAGE THE RISK, MITIGATE AND
PREVENT BIRDSTRIKES?
4 June 2009 EU-US Aviation Safety Conference Athens Slide 32
THANK YOU
ANY QUESTIONS
NICK YEARWOODUK CAA
AERODROME STRATEGY & STANDARDS