Programme overview
Introduction:
Aerodrome safeguarding and wildlife hazard management, covering OLS, bird strike and land use, is a 1-week course for safeguarding, wildlife control, airport environment and land-use consultation units that ends with an Aerodrome Safeguarding and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan for a case aerodrome. Airports face engine ingestion, windscreen damage and penetrated approach surfaces when bird attractants, cranes, tall buildings, bright lighting and lasers near the runway go unassessed. Nominees already patrol, log strikes or review development applications and learn through case studies built on strike records, habitat surveys and planning consultations. CoreConcept Training Center delivers this aerodrome safeguarding course.
Course Objectives:
- Map the obstacle limitation surfaces and wildlife attractant zones around an aerodrome and assess the current safeguarding baseline
- Analyse bird strike reports and species observation counts to rank hazardous species by likelihood and severity
- Apply habitat modification, exclusion and dispersal techniques from ICAO Doc 9137 Part 3 to reduce wildlife presence on and near the airfield
- Assess building, crane, wind turbine and lighting proposals against the obstacle limitation surfaces and issue safeguarding responses
- Control off-airport land uses such as landfills, wetlands and crops through consultation zones and agreed planning conditions
- Compile an Aerodrome Safeguarding and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan with patrol routines, response criteria and performance indicators
Target Audience:
- Wildlife control units responsible for airfield patrols, bird dispersal and strike remains collection
- Safeguarding units responsible for reviewing building, crane and lighting proposals near the aerodrome
- Airport environment units responsible for grass height, drainage ponds, waste and habitat on the airport estate
- Municipal and regional planning units responsible for land-use decisions within airport consultation zones
- Aerodrome inspection units responsible for recording obstacles, laser incidents and hazard observations
Course Outline:
Day 1: Safeguarding Context, Hazard Sources and Aerodrome Baseline
- Bird Strike Consequences for Engines, Windscreens and Airframes
- ICAO Annex 14 Safeguarding Duties of the Aerodrome Operator
- Airport Estate Habitat Inventory of Grassland, Water and Shelter
- Off-Airport Attractant Survey Across the Wider Consultation Area
- Safeguarding Baseline Review Using Strike Logs and Objections
Day 2: Obstacle Limitation Surfaces and Wildlife Hazard Frameworks
- Conical, Inner Horizontal and Approach Surface Geometry
- Transitional, Balked Landing and Take-Off Climb Surfaces
- ICAO Doc 9137 Part 3 Wildlife Hazard Management Principles
- IBIS Strike Reporting Fields and Species Identification
- Species Risk Matrix Combining Mass, Flocking and Frequency
Day 3: Strike Data Analysis, Habitat Control and Dispersal Techniques
- Strike Rate Normalised by Aircraft Movements Trend Calculation
- Long Grass Policy, Drainage Netting and Roost Exclusion
- Pyrotechnics, Distress Calls and Falconry Dispersal Rotation
- Patrol Logbook Design With Bird Counts and Actions Taken
- Crane Permit and Temporary Obstacle Assessment Procedure
Day 4: Land-Use Conflicts, Lighting, Lasers and Habituation Problems
- Landfill, Wetland and Crop Attractant Planning Conditions
- Wind Turbine and Tall Building Penetration Case Reviews
- Outdoor Lighting Glare and Confusing Light Pattern Controls
- Laser Beam Protected Flight Zones and Incident Response
- Wildlife Habituation Signs and Dispersal Method Refresh
Day 5: Case Study Build of the Safeguarding and Wildlife Plan
- Case Aerodrome Strike History and Species Ranking
- Case Development Applications Screened Against Surfaces
- Case Habitat Changes and Dispersal Programme Schedule
- Case Consultation Zone Map and Planning Response Letters
- Aerodrome Safeguarding and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan Completion
Skills You Will Gain:
- Obstacle Surface Interpretation
- Bird Strike Data Analysis
- Species Risk Ranking
- Airfield Habitat Modification
- Wildlife Dispersal Planning
- Development Proposal Screening
- Land-Use Consultation Responses
- Laser and Lighting Hazard Control
Why Attend This Course:
- Deliver an Aerodrome Safeguarding and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan to the aerodrome manager, safety manager and local planning partners
- Decide whether a crane, building, light installation or landfill extension should be cleared, conditioned or objected to
- Avoid engine ingestion events, costly strike repairs, runway delays and approach surfaces penetrated by unassessed structures
- Coach patrol crews and planning colleagues with the species risk matrix, patrol logbook and safeguarding screening checklist
Conclusion:
Back at work, the participant presents the Aerodrome Safeguarding and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan to the aerodrome manager, the safety manager and the planning partners in the consultation zone. They use it to set patrol frequencies, choose habitat changes and dispersal methods, and screen cranes, buildings, lighting and attractant land uses against agreed criteria. After the first season under the plan, the unit should compare strike rates, species counts, dispersal results and safeguarding responses with the plan targets and adjust methods, patrols or planning conditions where results fall short.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What should participants know before an aerodrome safeguarding and wildlife hazard management course?
Participants should already patrol an airfield, record bird strikes, manage the airport estate or review planning applications near an aerodrome. Bringing anonymised strike records, patrol logs or a recent development consultation helps during the case study day.
How does aerodrome safeguarding and wildlife hazard management differ from an airfield maintenance or airport planning course?
It protects the airspace and surroundings of an existing aerodrome from wildlife, obstacles, lighting and attractant land uses. Airfield maintenance courses keep pavements and lighting serviceable, and airport planning courses size new runways and terminals.
Why does aerodrome safeguarding and wildlife hazard management look beyond the airport fence?
Many hazardous birds feed or roost on landfills, wetlands, farmland and water bodies kilometres away and cross the approach paths daily. Tall structures and lighting outside the fence can also affect aircraft, so planning consultation is part of the control.
What do participants take back from the aerodrome safeguarding and wildlife hazard management course?
Participants take back an Aerodrome Safeguarding and Wildlife Hazard Management Plan with a species risk ranking, habitat and dispersal programme, development screening checklist and consultation zone map they can adapt to their own aerodrome.