Media release

New website for www.aawhg.org

This week, the Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group (AAWHG) launched its new website.

New features include a graphic overview of bird strikes over the past 25 years, statistics on the parts of an aircraft most commonly struck, and at what altitudes and locations these occur.

The website has been designed to work effectively across various platforms, regardless of whether you’re accessing it via your desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

 The resources section of the website has also been reorganised, and new resources to be added regularly will make it the ‘one-stop shop’ for wildlife hazard management information.

Wildlife strike and aviation

Aircraft and wildlife, especially birds, have been coming into contact with one another since the beginning of aviation. The first reported bird strike occurred in 1905, when the Wright Flyer flown by Orville Wright struck a bird over an Ohio cornfield.

Bird strikes happen every day, and occur most commonly at airports (90 per cent according to ICAO), when aircraft are landing, or taking off. The majority happen at low altitudes: 50–60 per cent of bird strikes occur at zero to 50 feet, and 30 per cent between 50–500 feet.

Bird strikes worldwide have accounted for 262 human fatalities since 1988 and destroyed 250 aircraft.  Bird strikes are estimated to cause over $1.2 billion in aircraft damage annually.

About the AAWHG

The Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group is the primary aviation wildlife hazard management reference body in Australia, and well regarded internationally.

The group’s membership includes multiple aviation industry stakeholders and organisations, such as airlines, airports, Defence, air traffic control, government agencies, and wildlife researchers and service providers. The AAWHG executive team, representing a range of these organisations, volunteer their expertise in the interests of improving aviation safety.

The Group aims to:

• Raise industry and public awareness of aviation wildlife hazards, associated risks and their management
• Promote industry best practice in aviation wildlife hazard management
• Provide a forum for stakeholders to discuss aviation wildlife hazard management and risk reduction methods
• Be the go-to information source for organisations and individuals with a vested interest in aviation wildlife hazard management
• Provide aviation wildlife hazard management policy, safety regulation and guidance material advice to the Australian government.