Utilizing UAS to Support Wildlife Hazard Management Efforts by Airport Operators

Wildlife strikes to aviation are a serious economic and safety concern. The Federal Aviation Administration requires Part 139 airport operators to conduct a wildlife hazard assessment (WHA) when certain wildlife strike events occur at or around the airport. A WHA provides the empirical framework for the development of an effective Wildlife Hazard Management Plan by Part 139 airport operators. The purpose of this ongoing study is to investigate the application of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) technologies into the airport environment as a tool to identify hazardous wildlife species, their behaviors, and their habitats during a WHA. A qualified airport wildlife biologist has assisted our team during the development of new data collection methods, as well as the identification of wildlife species throughout the entire project. Data have been collected using a DJI Matrice 210 drone with a Zenmuse X5S camera and with a DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual drone at Coe Field (8FA4), a privately used, general aviation airport located in Class G airspace. Different strategies to mitigate risks associated with manned air traffic and remote-controlled aircraft were implemented in our study, such as incorporating an automatic detection surveillance broadcast flight box and Foreflight technologies as well as numerous visual observers during data collection. Furthermore, all team members are properly rated to act as a Remote Pilot in Command of our sUAS under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 107 regulations