BSC-USA

Bird and other wildlife strikes to aircraft annually cause well over $600 million in damage to U.S. civil and military aviation. Furthermore, these strikes put the lives of aircraft crew members and their passengers at risk: over 219 people have been killed worldwide as a result of wildlife strikes since 1988. Within the United States there was no one forum where information or concerns dealing with this problem could be addressed. Bird Strike Committee USA was formed in 1991 to facilitate the exchange of information, promote the collection and analysis of accurate wildlife strike data, promote the development of new technologies for reducing wildlife hazards, promote professionalism in wildlife management programs on airports through training and advocacy of high standards of conduct for airport biologists and bird patrol personnel, and be a liaison to similar organizations in other countries.

Bird Strike Committee USA is a volunteer organization directed by a 10- to 15-person steering committee consisting of 2-3 members each from the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, aviation industry/airlines, and airports.

WHEN AND WHERE DOES BIRD STRIKE COMMITTEE USA MEET?

The organization meets annually in conjunction with Bird Strike Committee Canada.

· The 2005 meeting was in Vancouver, B.C. Canada on 15-18 August.

· The 2006 meeting was 21-24 August in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

· The 2007 meeting was 10-13 September in Kingston, Ontario Canada.

· The 2008 meeting was 18-21 August in Orlando, Florida USA.

· The 2009 meeting will be 14-17 September in Victoria, BC Canada

WHAT HAPPENS AT A BIRD STRIKE COMMITTEE USA MEETING?

There typically are four parts to a Bird Strike Committee USA meeting over 3 ½ days. Part 1 is practical classroom and field training sessions on wildlife control at airports which cover both civil and military aviation. Part 2 consists of the presentation of technical papers and posters. Part 3 is exhibits and demonstrations with vendors. Part 4 is a field trip which generally covers the host airport or a wildlife management area to observe management programs and habitat issues related to wildlife and aviation safety.

WHAT SUBJECT AREAS ARE COVERED DURING THE PAPERS AND REPORTS PORTION OF THE MEETING?

· wildlife strike reporting/statistics in relation to safety management systems
· bird management and control techniques
· research on new technologies to reduce wildlife hazards
· training in wildlife management on airports
· military concerns of wildlife hazards
· aircraft engines/components performance and standards related to wildlife hazards
· policies/ standards for airports and aircraft operations related to wildlife hazards
· land use and environmental issues concerning airports
· avian migration, behavior and sensory capabilities related to aviation
· remote sensing/modeling to detect and predict bird numbers and movements

ARE THERE ANY BIRD STRIKE COMMITTEE USA PUBLICATIONS?

Attendees of the annual meetings receive abstracts of the technical papers presented and a list of all attendees and addresses. Click here to locate abstracts from past meetings. PDF files of many of the presentations at the 2006 meeting are available by clicking here. Technical presentations from the 2008 meeting will be published in the science journal, Human-Wildlife Conflicts (first issue of 2009 Volume).

WHO ATTENDS BIRD STRIKE COMMITTEE USA MEETINGS?

Participation in the annual meetings is open to any person interested in reducing wildlife hazards to aviation and in wildlife and environmental management at airports. As examples, people from the following organizations have attended recent meetings:

· Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association
· Aircraft and Aircraft Engine Manufacturers
· Air Line Pilots Association
· American Association of Airport Executives
Airports Council International-NA
· Airport management and operations personnel
· Air Transport Association
· Engineering/Environmental Consulting Firms
· FAA Regional Airport Certification Personnel
· Flight Safety Foundation
Humane Society of the United States
· National Bird Strike Committees from over 20 countries
· International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
· National Transportation Safety Board
State Wildlife Agencies
· University and Private Research Facilities
· US Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services
· US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
· US Department of Defense (Air Force, Navy, Army)
· Wildlife Management Companies

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

· Over 219 people have been killed world-wide as a result of bird strikes since 1988.

· Bird and other wildlife strikes cost USA civil aviation over $620 million/year, 1990-2007.

· Over 5,000 bird strikes were reported by the U.S. Air Force in 2007.

· Over 7,600 bird and other wildlife strikes were reported for USA civil aircraft in 2007.

· Studies indicate only about 20% of bird strikes to civil aircraft at Part 139-certificated (passenger service) airports in USA are reported. Less than 5% of bird strikes at General Aviation airports are reported.

· From 1990-2004, USA airlines reported 31 incidents in which pilots had to dump fuel to lighten load during a precautionary or emergency landing after striking birds on takeoff or climb. An average of 11,600 gallons of jet fuel was released in each of these dumps.

· Waterfowl (31%), gulls (26%), and raptors (18%) represented 75% of the reported bird strikes causing damage to USA civil aircraft, 1990-2007.

· Over 760 civil aircraft collisions with deer and 250 collisions with coyotes were reported in the USA, 1990-2007.

· In 1890, about 60 European starlings were released in Central Park, New York City. Starlings are now the second most abundant bird in North America with a late-summer population of over 150 million birds. Starlings are "feathered bullets", having a body density 27% higher than herring gulls.

· The North American non-migratory Canada goose population increased 3.6 fold from 1 million birds in 1990 to over 3.5 million in 2007. Over 1,400 Canada geese strikes with civil aircraft have been reported in USA, 1990-2007. Over 40% of these strike events involved multiple birds.

· A 12-lb Canada goose struck by a150-mph aircraft at lift-off generates the force of a 1,000-lb weight dropped from a height of 10 feet.

· The North American population of greater snow geese increased from about 50,000 birds in 1966 to over 1,000,000 birds in 2007.

· The nesting population of bald eagles in the contiguous USA increased from fewer than 400 pairs in 1970 (2 years before DDT and similar chlorinated-hydrocarbon insecticides were banned) to over 11,000 pairs in 2007. Over 100 bald eagle strikes with civil aircraft have been reported in USA, 1990-2007. Mean body mass of bald eagles = 9.1 lbs (male); 11.8 lbs (female).

· The Great Lakes cormorant population increased from only about 200 nesting adults in 1970 to over 260,000 nesting adults in 2006, a 1,000+-fold increase.

· The North American white and brown pelican populations grew at average annual rates of 2.3% and 1.9%, respectively, 1966-2007.

· At least 15,000 gulls were counted nesting on roofs in USA cities on the Great Lakes during a survey in 1994.

· About 90% of all bird strikes in the U.S. are by species federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
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Meeting Information

Useful Links

For further information contact:

John Ostrom, Chair, BSC-USA
Metropolitan Airports Commission
Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Airport
St. Paul, MN 55111-3010
612-726-5780; 612-726-5074 (fax)
jostrom@mspmac.org