Panel Discussion:
Hazard Detection, Standardized Warnings, and Avoiding Hazards: Lessons from Mitigating Wind Shear
Not long ago, wind shear was not well understood. From 1975 to 1984 there were at least 7 accidents or incidents related to downbursts of wind. Not included in that number was a near miss with Air Force One in 1983. In response to the significant aviation hazard, technology was developed to provide hazard warning systems to pilots. In 1988, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated that commercial aircraft be equipped with wind shear detection systems by 1993. Prior to mitigation, we had over 400 deaths related to wind shear accidents in the United States (1973-1985). After applying mitigation strategies, we have not had a wind shear related accident in the United States (since 1994). This panel aims to discuss learnings from wind shear mitigation strategies and discuss how they can be applied to wildlife management.
Moderator: Jeff Follett, CEO, Avisure
The Panel:
Richard Dolbeer, Science Advisor, USDA Wildlife Services
Isabel Metz, Research Associate, DLR’s Institute of Flight Guidance
Kurt Roberts, Airplane Safety Engineer, Boeing Company
Richard A. Dolbeer
Richard Dolbeer was a scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1972-2008 where he led research projects to resolve conflicts between humans and wildlife in North America, Africa, and Asia. He has over 230 scientific publications. Richard was a founding member of Bird Strike Committee-USA and served as chairperson from 1997-2008. Richard was the first recipient of The Wildlife Society’s Caesar Kleberg award for Excellence in Applied Wildlife Research. He was publicly elected to two 4-year terms on the Board of Education in Huron, Ohio, serving as President for 2 years. A native of Tennessee, Richard received his PhD degree from Colorado State University in 1972. Richard currently manages his 60-acre farm “Bluebird Haven” in Ohio dedicated to environmental education and Alzheimer’s awareness and works as a science adviser to the USDA. He has 2 children and 6 grandchildren.
Isabel C. Metz
Dr. Isabel C. Metz received her M.Sc. degree in Mobility and Transportation (cum laude) from the University of Technology in Braunschweig, Germany and her PhD degree from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. In her current position at the German Aerospace Center’s Institute of Flight Guidance, she investigates the safety aspects of Urban Air Mobility operations with emphasis on the prevention of bird and drone strikes. Isabel is a member of ICAO’s Wildlife Hazard Management Expert Group.
Kurt Roberts
Kurt Roberts (MBA Seattle University, BSME [Aerospace] United States Military Academy, PMP) is an Airplane Safety Engineer with The Boeing Company where he works in the Airplane Safety Airplane Development group. His responsibilities include airplane-level safety requirements, airplane system and component failure analyses for single failures and multiple failures, and safety assessment for airplane threats, including bird strike, windmilling, and others. In his previous position as a Project Engineer for Service-Related Problems, Kurt led engineering teams through root-cause analysis and corrective actions for emergent issues across the commercial aircraft fleet. Kurt also is an active outdoorsman who values wildlife and wild habitat, and he is a private pilot with a keen interest in avoiding interactions between small aircraft and wildlife.