ICAO guidelines require that airports monitor wildlife activity not just within their boundaries, but on key sites within a certain radius – typically 13km. Sites which have the potential to attract birds can either bring more birds into the area or create flight paths for birds travelling between attractants. Either will likely result in an increased bird presence at the airport, and therefore an increase in risk.
Many airports outsource this task to pricey consultancy firms, but it’s entirely possible to handle this in-house – with the right tools that is. Using Scarecrow’s Off Aerodrome Reporting (O.A.R) software, airports can easily handle offsite reporting themselves at a far lower cost than bringing in outside help.
About 13km Reporting or Airports
Airports must monitor birds at sites such as landfills, large water bodies and sewage works, and keep scrupulous records. These records should include the species of birds sighted and approximate numbers, as well as the time and date at which the sighting took place. This provides the basis for a thorough assessment of what risk these birds could potentially pose to aircraft, and what measures may be appropriate for mitigating that risk.
Much like the observations made and the records kept within the aerodrome, this gives both immediate information and, over time, insight into trends that can be used predictively. In the shorter term, these observations identify which types of bird are gathering at a site and are currently at risk of straying into airspace where they could pose a problem for passengers. Looking at data gathered over time will reveal the patterns of which species tend to arrive at what time of year, allowing you to be forewarned and forearmed.
Bringing Offsite Reporting In-House with Scarecrow O.A.R
Scarecrow O.A.R is designed to provide simple reporting of offsite wildlife activity to ICAO’s required standards. Observations can be logged with a few taps of a touch screen, and advanced reporting tools mean that the data can be analysed and turned into actionable insights just as easily.
O.A.R can also be installed alongside B.I.R.D Tab, our complete reporting and dispersal system for within the airport. Together, they provide a comprehensive data collection and reporting system for inside and outside the aerodrome, giving unparalleled insight into the bird strike risks facing the airport from every direction.
We designed O.A.R to save airports expensive consultancy fees by cost-effectively and easily bringing these tasks in-house. Click here to find out more about this market-leading solution, or discuss what O.A.R could do for your airport by contacting us.
