Applying UAS technologies at night to identify hazardous wildlife species to aviation operations
Janelle Drennan
Undegraduate Student and Researcher
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
1 Aerospace Boulevard Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
drennaj@my.erau.edu
Flavio A. C. Mendonca
Assistant Professor
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
1 Aerospace Boulevard Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
1 (386) 226-6776, (138) 622-6677
E-mail: COIMBRAF@ERAU.EDU
Jose Cabrera
UAS Flight Instructor & Research Support Specialist
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
1 Aerospace Boulevard Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
cabrej14@erau.edu
and
Robert Sliwinski
Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologist
Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd
Rosemont, Illinois, USA
rsliwinski@cbbel.com
Abstract: Wildlife strikes are an increasing safety and economic concern for the US aviation industry. In this ongoing study, our team has explored the use of UAS technologies to support data collection and analysis during nighttime Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA) processes. Data has been collected in a farmland area that is located two nautical miles south of Daytona Beach International Airport. The research team has applied safety risk management concepts and protocols to identify hazards and mitigate the risks associated with the operation of UAS at and around the airport environment. The safe application of UAS to streamline the WHA process is anticipated to provide several benefits to the airport operator, including task completion in reduced time, enhanced level of accuracy during the data collection process, reduced risks for the qualified airport wildlife biologist, and cost efficiencies. Most importantly, researchers are expecting to develop benchmark safety protocols that can facilitate the effective integration of UAS into the airport environment. During our presentation audience members will be invited to provide feedback and suggestions to this ongoing research effort.
Janelle Drennan
Janelle Drennan is an undergraduate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University who is currently pursuing her third degree, a Bachelor of Science in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science. She is an Army war veteran that served in Iraq as an Intelligence Analyst where she discovered her love for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors and capabilities. She works as a UAS lab assistant and can also be found working on several research projects:
- UAS for Hazard Management at Airports
- UAS Telemetric Exploration
- UAS Part 107 Compliance Near Towers
Flavio A. C. Mendonca
Dr. Flavio Mendonca is an assistant professor and researcher at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is a Brazilian Air Force retired officer, a pilot, a Flight Safety Officer, and a senior aircraft accident investigator. His research agenda focuses on investigating how UAS technologies could be effectively applied to identify hazardous wildlife species to aviation operations as well as potential wildlife attractants within the airport jurisdiction. In addition, Dr. Mendonca has conducted research utilizing wildlife-strike and aircraft operations data. Findings of these studies can provide the scientific foundation for national policies and other safety efforts by aviation stakeholders, and for refinements in the development and implementation of integrated research and operational efforts to mitigate the risk of wildlife strikes to aircraft.
Jose Cabrera
Jose Cabrera is a UAS Flight instructor and Research Support Specialist at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, where he is a master’s student in the Master of Business Administration degree program. He is a war veteran that has served in Afghanistan as a driver/gunner of an MRAP and Electronic Warfare Officer, ensuring the jamming devices were functional on convoy security missions. He works on numerous research projects that include:
- UAS for Hazard Management at Airports
- Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
- (Turtle Tech) Sea Turtle Conservation
- UAS Forensics for Contraband Drops research
Robert Sliwinski
Robert Sliwinski is a Senior Wildlife Biologist at Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. in Rosemont, Illinois. Mr. Sliwinski holds a B.A. in Biology from Knox College and an M.S. in Zoology from Western Illinois University. Mr. Sliwinski specializes in airport wildlife hazard assessments, hazard plans, plan review and training. Mr. Sliwinski conducts endangered species assessment, wildlife surveys, wetland monitoring and management and controlled burns. Robert is adjunct faculty at DePaul University teaching Bird Identification, Aquatic Fauna and Fire Ecology. Robert is also on the board of directors of the Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals.