SBIR-STTR Award

Bird/aircraft collisions cause USAF more than $45 million per year, and sometimes result in catastrophic loss of life. Large migratory bird populations drawn to a nearby landfill have threatened JFK airport, where safety of flight considerations nearly caused shutdown of the airport. Aircraft operators, including USAF, are now liable for civil damages should an aircraft strike and kill and endangered species of bird. Relatively recent evidence indicates that "infrasound" (below 20Hz) is an important sensory input into bird behavior, providing cues for navigation, and it is theorized, "warnings" that elicit avoidance responses. The proposed research develops a scientific baseline for gull, raptor, and waterfowl reaction to infrasound. Further, the research would define mechanically replicable infrasound parameters that provide avoidance stimuli to two of the three species. The goal of the research is to test the feasibility of developing an infrasonic device, or family of devices, that could be used around airfields to reduce the occurrence of aircraft/bird collisions by 50% or more. Though definition of conceptual designs, using data gathered from USAF, the contractor performs a Cost and Operational Efffectiveness Analysis to show potential benefits to be gained by Phase II research and/or prototype development.

Bird/aircraft collisions pose a significant cost and safety hazard to both military and commercial aviation. Over the past five years the USAF has lost nine aircraft to bird collisions. Damage to USAF aircraft exceeds $50M per year. Worldwide annual bird/aircraft collision damage cost exceed $1B. There are three basic approaches to reducing this problem: strength the aircraft, avoid the birds, and help the birds avoid the aircraft. The goal of this project is to develop cues which stimulate successful aircraft avoidance behavior in birds. In Phase I feasibility of this approach was shown. A low amplitude acoustic cue causes birds to interrupt other activity and become more alert to potential danger. Several feasible mechanisms for propagating this information to birds exist. Also, optical cues can enhance the identification of the aircraft as the potential threat, thus, evoking the desired avoidance response. The goal of Phase II is to quantitatively evaluate the performance and cost of this approach. Extensive field testing will be conducted that will provide the information required to modify existing equipment and procedures. It is anticipated that the results will have a significant impact on the safety and costs to military and commercial aviation resulting from avian collisions.