Aerodrome Safety Circular (ASC) No. 2001-006
Sharing the Skies: An Aviation Industry Guide to the Management of Wildlife Hazards.
The purpose of this Circular is to provide those on our distribution list with a description of the enclosed Transport Canada publication, Sharing the Skies. The book is intended to present relevant and comprehensive information on the bird and mammal strike problem to industry stakeholders. Sharing the Skies also describes and recommends effective strategies available to the aviation community to reduce the risk associated with wildlife strikes.
Sharing the Skies is designed to provide strategic guidance on wildlife hazard management to pilots, air traffic service providers, airport operators, wildlife management staff, regulators and engine/aircraft manufacturers. It is Transport Canada's intention that the book be used in conjunction with the upcoming amendment to the Wildlife Control Procedures Manual which functions as a tactical guide to wildlife management activities for airport operators. Although wildlife related incidents are relatively rare in terms of frequency, the consequences are high and these two reference documents will be valuable resources for wildlife-related risk management activities.
In recent years the cost of damage to aircraft resulting from wildlife related incidents has proven to be higher than previously estimated and recent fatal accidents involving military transport aircraft have been well publicized. These factors combined with rapidly increasing populations of some hazardous bird species and an expanding air travel network have created a need for a user-friendly guide to the management of wildlife hazards.
Furthermore, Transport Canada's role has changed from being an operator, regulator and service provider to being a regulator and safety overseer of the civil aviation system. This has created the need to involve more stakeholders in the management of wildlife issues.
Sharing the Skies is based on the system safety approach where there is a need to apply specialized skills in a coordinated and purposeful manner. In a system safety approach, everyone in the aviation community has a specific role to play in reducing the risks posed by wildlife. This publication is the first book to present a comprehensive, system safety approach to wildlife risk management.
The greatest benefit will be gained by reading Sharing the Skies in its entirety, however each chapter is designed to stand-alone and offer valuable, specific information to the reader. Chapters one to seven are descriptive and offer information on topics such as costs, liability, incident statistics and airport operations. Chapters eight to twelve provide specific recommendations to industry professionals so they can fulfill their responsibilities within a system safety approach. Airport operators are advised to read the Introduction and Chapters one to seven for information on the nature and extent of the problem, and Chapters eight and fourteen for recommended solutions.
Sharing the Skies provides aviation professionals with a description of wildlife management problems and strategies they can implement to reduce risks associated with bird and mammal strikes. As well, this book offers an overall vision for wildlife management based on the system safety approach. It is our hope that Sharing the Skies will raise awareness of the safety issues related to wildlife hazards, promote co-operation among stakeholders and reduce the probability of a wildlife related accident.
For more information on this issue, contact your regional Aerodrome Safety office or visit the Civil Aviation Communication Centre's Web site at http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/secretariat-763.htm or call 1-800-305-2059.
Original signed by:
John Maxwell (2001.04.27)
Director, Aerodrome Safety