Client | Ventia Pty Ltd
Location | Edinburgh, SA.
Service |Air Show Planning and Wildlife Risk Mitigation
Avisure’s southern Australia team was proud to undertake aviation wildlife strike risk mitigation at the RAAF Edinburgh Air Show, Exercise Southern Sky 2019 on the 9–10 November 2019. Over 40,000 people attended the much-awaited, two-day event. With the support of Ventia, Avisure was involved with the air show safety and planning team: undertaking wildlife strike risk assessments, risk mitigation work; and providing a tailored workshop and general advice.
The two-day event showcased advances in aviation technology during the 100 years since Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith made their epic flight from England to Australia. The public had a rare opportunity to visit the airfield and see some of the Australian Defence Force’s technology and advanced military aircraft, including the fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the F-35A Lightning II, as well as historic and vintage aircraft. RAAF Edinburgh’s very own AP-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon were some of the many aircraft which wowed the crowd, along with Pilatus PC21, Alenia C27J Spartan, Boeing C17 Globemaster III, E-7A Wedgetail, F/A-18A/B Hornet and F/A-18F Super Hornet.
A team of highly qualified Avisure wildlife management officers (WMOs) was on hand to inspect aircraft manoeuvring areas before and in-between movements and disperse birds away from aircraft flight paths. A number of risk species, such as the Australian pelican, Australian white ibis, Wedge-taileded Eagle, Little Eagle, Little Corella, Silver Gull and Little Raven, flew in critical air space during the aircraft displays. On several occasions, WMOs communicated the risk to the air traffic controllers in a timely manner to maintain wildlife and aircraft separation.
The WMOs’ effort resulted in zero wildlife strikes, in spite of airborne wildlife and numerous aircraft sharing RAAF Edinburgh air space throughout the event.
