Bird+or+wildlife+Aircraft+Strike+Hazard

GIS~ Geographic Information System BAM~ Bird Avoidence Model AHAS~ Avian Hazard Advisory Systems Bird strikescost the US Air Force $35 million dollars annually since 1985 [|http://www.usahas.com] http://www.usahas.com/bam [|http://www.birdstrike.org] [|www.faa.gov/runwaysafety] -BAM and AHAS have been fully operational since January 28, 2005 -There have been over 38,000 bird strikes recorded by the United States Air Force that have killed 33 aviators, destroyed 30 aircraft, and caused more than $500 million dollars worth of equipment damage since 1985. //-A **runway incursion** is "Any occurrence at an aerodrome involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for the landing and take off of aircraft."// //**__ DID YOU KNOW THAT? __** //

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

· There have been over 38,000 bird strikes recorded by the United States Air Force that have killed 33 aviators, destroyed 30 aircraft, and caused more than $500 million dollars worth of equipment damage since 1985.  · Over 126 bat strikes have been recorded since 1997.  · Over 5,000 bird strikes were reported by the U.S. Air Force in 2006.  · About 90% of all bird strikes in the U.S. are by species federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  · Bird strikes cost the US Air Force $35 million dollars annually since 1985.  · An estimated 80% of bird strikes to civil aircraft in USA go unreported.  · Waterfowl (31% ), gulls (26%), and raptors (17%) represented 74% of the reported bird strikes causing damage to USA civil aircraft, 1990-2006.

Not just birds cause damages to planes. Bats are an issue also. A small 0.5 ounce bat caused about $10,000 in damages to a T-37B

Another 0.5 ounce bat with the help of a morning dove caused $195,707 in damages to a C-130E Hercules

**__ Some websites related to BASH: __**

•[|http://www.usahas.com]

•http://www.usahas.com/bam

•[|http://www.birdstrike.org]

•www.faa.gov/runwaysafety • [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_strike 

-General Questions

**1. What is the Bird Avoidance Model?** The Bird Avoidance Model is used as a key tool for analysis, predictability, and correlation of bird habitat, migration, and breeding characteristics, combined with key environmental, and man-made geographic data.

**2. Why was the model created?** The model was created to provide Air Force pilots and flight scheduler/planners with a tool for making informed decisions when selecting flight routes. The model was created in an effort to protect human lives, wildlife, and equipment during air operations throughout the conterminous United States and Alaska.

**3. Who uses the model?** The model is used by the Department of Defense and is now available to the general public through this Internet application.

**4. How was the model created?** The value for each cell (or pixel) of the model is equivalent to the sum of the mean bird mass (in ounces), for all bird species present during a particular daily time period, for one of 26 two-week periods in a year. The bird species data set was derived from discrete geographic information for observations of 60 key BASH bird species, over a 30-year period. The species data was acquired from several key datasets, including the Audubon Societies' Christmas Bird Count (CBC), the US Biologic Survey's Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), bird refuge arrival and departure data for the conterminous US, and many additional data that are specific to a particular bird species.

The bird abundance observations were interpolated using an inverse distance weighted method to reduce interpolation bias. The interpolated abundance values were then converted to bird mass using the mean weight of adult birds, measured in ounces. The bird species data were then combined for different species groups based on common behavior. The species groups were then modeled for dawn, day, dusk, and night daily periods, for each of 26 annual two-week periods.

**5. What do the risk levels really mean?** The risk levels describe three predicted risk classes - Low, Moderate, and Severe, which are based upon the bird mass in ounces per square kilometer. In other words, the risk levels represent the amount of birds (bird mass) in a kilometer squared spatial area.

The "Moderate Zone" indicates a risk ratio that is 57-708 times the risk of the "Low Zone", while the "Severe Zone" indicates a risk ratio that is 2,503-38,647 times the risk of the "Low Zone"! These risk values are derived using a logarythmic scale for the risk surfaces.

**6. Is it safe to fly if I am within a "Severe Zone"?** The model uses the best available data for historical modeling of bird migratory patterns to provide the user with an effective decision making tool. Because birds are dynamic creatures whose migratory behavior is initiated by weather events in any given year, the model can not be said to predict the exact movement of bird species through space and time beyond the biweekly timeframe. Spatial zones that indicate a severe risk according to the model should be not be ignored and should be avoided. It is not suggested that pilots fly within the "Severe Zone" unless it is mission essential.

To receive real-time data associated with bird migratory movement, the [|Avian Hazard Advisory System] (AHAS) should be consulted. The AHAS provides users with real-time (i.e., 24 hour window) risk prediction of bird movement and is currently available for the conterminous United States and Alaska.

**7. Where can I find more information about bird strikes?** > AHAS provides users with real-time risk prediction of bird movement. > The committee provides bird hazard and bird hazard prevention information. > The team's goal is the preservation of war fighting capabilities through the reduction of wildlife hazards to aircraft operations. This info was found at http://www.usahas.com/BAM/FAQ/questions.asp#17http://www.usahas.com/BAM/FAQ/questions.asp#17
 * [|Avian Hazard Advisory System]
 * [|Bird Strike Committee USA]
 * [|Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard Team]