Mon, Apr 27, 2009
'Decision to Make Bird-Strike Data Public Enhances Aviation
Safety'
Embry-Riddle is weighing on the decision to go public with the
once super secret Bird-Strike data that was being withheld for
unknown reasons.
The University notes that, "The Federal Aviation
Administration's (FAA) decision this week to make its airplane
bird-strike data public in the wake of the US Air Flight 1549
near-disaster gives the public and researchers access to the
government's records of where and when airplanes have struck birds
over the last 19 years. The FAA has been collecting data provided
voluntarily by airports, commercial and private pilots, the
military, and others since 1990. Embry-Riddle has played an
instrumental role in helping the industry and the FAA collect this
data and manage the Wildlife Mitigation Web site since October
1999. This FAA-contracted Web tool allows airport personnel around
the country to file online reports of wildlife strikes that occur
at their facilities. It is managed by the university's Prescott,
Ariz., wildlife mitigation experts and principal investigator,
Archie Dickey."
Dr. Christina Frederick-Recascino, vice president for research
and federal government relations for the university, added that,
"Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University applauds the FAA's decision
to make its entire bird-strike database available on a public Web
site... We see this initiative to expand and improve the database
search function and make it more user-friendly as an important step
toward enhancing aviation safety. This commitment improves
Embry-Riddle's and other key researchers' ability to share
important data and to develop new or improved wildlife mitigation
programs and, ultimately, save lives. We look forward to working
with the FAA to find ways to improve and strengthen bird-strike
data reporting."
ERAU also supported NTSB decision making by stating that,
"However, we also agree with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood's inclination to make bird-strike reporting mandatory.
Mandatory reporting will improve the industry's ability to
accurately measure wildlife threats and, more important, improve
the integrity of the data, which can be distorted if only a
minority of airports are reporting the bulk of wildlife
strikes."
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