The 2016 Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group forum was held at Mantra legends on the Gold Coast on 3rd & 4th November.

This year’s forum opened with excellent presentations from Greg Hood from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and by Richard Dolbeer from Bird Strike Committee USA. Greg and Richard set the stage for an engaging two days of presentations from airports around Australia. The breadth of speakers reflected an integrated approach toward aviation wildlife management with stakeholders from airports, airlines, regulators, legal firms, environmental consultancies, non-profits, and risk mitigation specialists. Thank you to everyone that attended and a special thanks to our sponsors and exhibitors. 

Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group Forum 2016 Brochure

Day 1

Session 1

Greg Hood – ATSB – Opening Address: Putting Safety First
Chuck Davies – CASA – Recommended Practices Update

Session 2

Richard Dolbeer – Bird Strike Committee USA – US Airways Flight 1549 Case Study
Thomas Lenné – ATSB – ATSB Wildlife Strike Report (and link to ATSB report)

Session 3

Brian Greeves, AusALPA; David Wiman, Airservices Australia; Liz Stokes, Toowoomba Aerodrome – Panel: An integrated approach to managing off-airport risk
Gary Pohlner – Virgin Australia – The operational effects of wildlife strikes
Rob Alexandra – Aviation Safety Manager RFDS QLD – Wildlife – An RFDS Perspective

Session 4

Brett Eaton, Adelaide Airport; Mike Clancy, Darwin Airport; Anthony Conte, Sydney Airport – Panel: Laser use for wildlife management
Jackson Ring, BAC; Matt Hill, Qantas; Alan House, Ecosure – Wasps and pitot tubes

Day 2

Session 1

Katie Selhorst – NatureCall – Terrestrial wildlife hazards
Graeme Gordon, Ballina-Byron Gateway Airport; Chris Perry, Avisure – Ballina Byron Gateway Airport wildlife management
Jess Bracks – Ecosure – Flying-fox ecology and management

Session 2

Catriona Dowling – Combat Support Group, Department of Defence – Australian Department of Defence National Wildlife Hazard Management Strategy
David Ferguson – HMAS Canberra – Wildlife Hazard Management Plan: How do you write a plan for a moving airfield?
Ronel Jit – Avisure – Wildlife Hazard Management at RAAF Bases

Session 3

Jenny Thornhill – Canberra Airport – Canberra Airport Case Study
Anthony Conte – Sydney Airport – Sydney Airport Case Study
Daniel Eatock – CASA Inspector – Annual Technical Inspections and Wildlife Management

Session 4

Shannon O’Hara – Carter Newell – Wildlife Strike litigation
Fiona Ryan, Virgin Australia; Leigh Gapp, Adelaide Airport; Chris Fox, Perth Airport – Panel: Wildlife Working Groups