Wildlife Hazard Management Manual

Wildlife Hazard Management Manual
Title	Wildlife Hazard Management Manual
Author	United States Federal Aviation Administration
Country	United States
Language	English
Subject	Aviation safety; wildlife hazard management
Publisher	Federal Aviation Administration
Pub date	2000–present
Pages	varies

Wildlife Hazard Management Manual The Wildlife Hazard Management Manual is a technical guidance compendium developed to reduce wildlife-related risks to civil aviation operations at airports and surrounding airspace. It synthesizes principles from wildlife biology, aviation safety practice, and regulatory policy to guide airport operators, air traffic controllers, and wildlife biologists in assessing hazards, implementing mitigation, and documenting outcomes. The manual integrates procedures that align with standards from international organizations and national authorities to support safe, efficient air transport.

Introduction

The manual originates from aviation safety imperatives observed in notable events such as the US Airways Flight 1549 emergency and historical birdstrike analyses cited by the National Transportation Safety Board and International Civil Aviation Organization. It frames wildlife strikes within the context of airport operations and references institutional stakeholders like the Federal Aviation Administration, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and national aviation authorities. The introduction situates the manual among operational guidance documents used alongside Airport Certification Manual procedures and Emergency Response Plans.

Scope and Objectives

The manual's scope addresses hazards posed by avian species and terrestrial fauna at airports, covering species documented in databases maintained by the Wildlife Strike Database and species registers used by the Smithsonian Institution for taxonomic confirmation. Objectives include reducing strike frequency, minimizing damage to aircraft such as during incidents involving Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 fleets, and ensuring regulatory compliance with directives from bodies like the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Transportation (United States). It delineates responsibilities among stakeholders including airport authorities, airlines such as Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, and government agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wildlife Hazard Assessment and Risk Analysis

Assessment protocols recommend biological surveys, habitat mapping, and use of statistical models drawing on case studies from incidents at LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Denver International Airport. Risk analysis methods incorporate species abundance, flocking behavior, and runway incursion probabilities, with reference to avian ecology work by institutions like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Ornithological Society. Tools referenced include Geographic Information System outputs used in planning by agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and research partnerships with universities like University of Michigan and Texas A&M University.

Management Strategies and Mitigation Measures

The manual outlines integrated strategies: habitat modification, exclusion techniques, active harassment, and strike reduction engineering. Habitat modification examples draw on landscape planning precedents from Central Park restorations and wetland management at sites influenced by Ramsar Convention guidance. Exclusion and deterrence methods refer to fencing standards used at Heathrow Airport and audio/visual deterrents trialed near Sydney Airport. Wildlife removal and relocation procedures align with permits administered by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and ethical guidelines promoted by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Structural mitigations include engine ingestion risk mitigants developed with manufacturers like General Electric and Rolls-Royce.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Data Management

Robust monitoring uses standardized reporting formats compatible with the Wildlife Strike Database and national incident reporting systems such as those managed by the National Transportation Safety Board. Data management practices recommend species identification supported by reference collections from the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History and databasing techniques employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for geospatial analyses. Reporting aligns with regulatory obligations under directives from International Civil Aviation Organization Annexes and national aviation safety regulations enacted by bodies like the Federal Aviation Administration.

Training, Roles, and Stakeholder Coordination

Training curricula described in the manual target operational staff at airports and include modules similar to programs run by the Aviation Safety Network and academic courses at institutions such as Purdue University School of Aviation and Transportation Technology. Roles are specified for airport wildlife biologists, operations managers, and liaison officers coordinating with emergency responders including Port Authority of New York and New Jersey units. Stakeholder coordination draws upon multilateral frameworks used in responses to wildlife incidents at major hubs like Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Frankfurt Airport.

Implementation, Audits, and Continuous Improvement

Implementation guidance emphasizes creation of Wildlife Hazard Management Plans, internal audits modeled after ISO 9001 quality practices, and continuous improvement loops informed by incident reviews by entities such as the National Transportation Safety Board and academic assessments published in journals affiliated with the American Association of Airport Executives. Audits and corrective action processes reference benchmarking exercises at international hubs like Changi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport, promoting adaptive management in line with evolving research from organizations including the International Bird Strike Committee.

Category:Aviation safety manuals