Abstract |
Collisions between aircraft and birds (bird strikes) are a concern throughout the world because they threaten passengers’ safety, result in loss of revenue and costly repairs to aircraft and can also erode public confidence in the air transport industry as a whole. This research, the first national cumulative assessment and management of bird hazards funded by the Hellenic Ministry of Transportations and Hellenic Aviation Authority, concerns aerodrome of Kavala which is adjacent to Nestos’ wetlands, one of the most fundamental refuges for migrating avifauna in Greece. According to International Civil Aviation Authority data, this airport runs greater risk of having a bird strike (39%) among all the civil airports in Greece, with an increase between May to September. This research, estimates bird abundance, distribution, bird temporal and spatial flight movement patterns and their habitat attractors at Kavala airport and within an 3.2 km radius, which is the “bird critical zone”, with a view to assess current air-strikes hazards and evaluate the potential consequences of an accident as well as manage them through the modifications of habitat and food sources potentially related as attractors to birds, with bird hazards. Moreover in this research provided a classification scheme with related protocols, providing a knowledge base for structuring bird strikes’ risk problems, risk policies and class-specific management strategies. Simultaneously three major management categories have been applied: risk - based, precautionary and discursive strategy. The risk – based policy means treatment of risk – avoidance, reduction, transfer and retention – using risk and decision analyses. The precautionary strategy means a policy of containment, constant monitoring, continuous research and the development of substitutes. Increasing resilience, i.e. resistance and robustness to surprises, is covered by the risk based strategy and the precautionary strategy. The discursive strategy means measures to build confidence and trustworthiness, through reduction of uncertainties, in air accidents and mishaps are caused by bird strikes, clarification of facts, involved human factors, deliberation and accountability. Nevertheless, in most cases, the appropriate strategy is a mixture of these strategies.
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