Last year’s “Miracle on the Hudson” birdstrike crash of US Airways flight 1549 at New York LaGuardia airport focused the aviation industry and regulators on reducing bird-aircraft strike (birdstrike) related risks. Birdstrikes annually cause significant revenue loss to the aviation industry due to aircraft downtime in inspecting for and repairing damage and from the resultant flight delays/cancellations, and, most importantly, place the lives of aircrews and passengers at risk.
One year after Flight 1549, what has progressed? What are the new birdstrike challenges?
Over the past year, airports, airlines and regulators have intensified efforts to reduce birdstrike risk that have included expanding bird control programs and deploying new technologies , such as bird radar systems, however much still remains to be done. Funding and operational integration issues however remain obstacles, especially in the current economy, and airports, airlines and regulators must find creative, cost-effective ways to more effectively manage birdstrike hazard risk. To ensure optimal birdstrike mitigation, there needs to be finely-orchestrated communications and operations between the operators on the ground (airports) and in the air (airlines).
In this informative webinar, you will learn:
- Effective information flow between airports and airlines for optimal reduction of birdstrikes
- How airports, airlines, and regulators have expended bird control efforts over the past year
- Leveraging emerging technologies to reduce birdstrike risk
- Cost-saving and easily implemented modification measures to enhance safe flight operations on the ground and in the air
- Risk analysis and metrics to ensure the maximum utilization of resources for birdstrike prevention
speakers
Capt. Paul Morell,
VP Safety and Regulator Compliance ,
US Airways
Captain Paul Morell, US Airways vice president, safety and regulatory compliance, serves as the airline's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-mandated director of safety, ensuring that required safety program elements have been established, implemented, and maintained throughout the airline. He is an aviation veteran, previously serving as US Airways' director, flight training and standards. He was also fleet captain for the US Airways' Airbus A330, Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 fleets, overseeing pilot training and operational policies and procedures.
John Ostrom,
Manager, Airside Operations, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
Chairman - Bird Strike Committee USA
John Ostrom is the Manager of the Metropolitan Airports Commission’s Airside Operations Department at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Hiss responsibilities include overseeing the staff of the Airside Operations Department whose duties are to manage the day-to-day operations of MSP. In addition to his supervisory duties, he manages a variety of MSP’s operational programs such as the Wildlife Hazards Management Program, the Runway Incursion Prevention Program and the Airport Certification Program.
Ronald L. Merritt,
President & Director BASH Services ,
DeTect Inc.
Ronald L. Merritt is a founder and the President of DeTect Inc. (www.detect-inc.com) and the Director of Bird-Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Services and Technologies for the company. He has a Masters degree in Biology and is a retired US Air Force officer (Major ret.) with over 25 years of experience as flight safety specialist and airport bird-wildlife control biologist. He was an Assistant Professor of Biology at the US Air Force (USAF) Academy and the Director for the largest core course in general biology. For over 20 years, he been a leader in the development and implementation of programs and technologies for reduction of bird and wildlife strikes for both military and civil aviation.
