Bird Strike Committee Proceedings
Date of this Version
October 2002
Abstract
We used our Mobile Avian Radar Systems on two different projects this past year. A study at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, used the old configuration, with a vertical-scanning radar and our image-processing technique. A study at Vancouver International Airport, B.C. used the new configuration with both vertical and surveillance radars and our new radar data processing technique. The Robins study was a preliminary assessment of seasonal bird-hazards, especially regarding the altitude distribution of birds near the airfield. Data was collected. The Vancouver study was a preliminary survey and system evaluation for the development of a real- time, dedicated Airport Bird Detection System. These two studies highlight the capabilities of avian radar systems and the improvements made over the past year. They also hint at the direction that avian radar systems are evolving as tools for managing bird hazards to aircraft.