23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions1

WE CREATE BIRDS

Safe bird control operations with Robirds at Schiphol Airport

Nico Nijenhuis+31 - (0)6 1360 4347

n.nijenhuis@clearflightsolutions.comThe Netherlands

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions2

Introduction: Bird strikes

Noticeable example:

First bird strike ever recorded Wilbur Wright - Wright Flyer IIISeptember 7th, 1905 Huffman Prairie, Dayton

•2009: US Airways Airbus A320, New York Hudson emergency landing•2010: Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737, Schiphol Engine flame out

Nowadays:•Annual worldwide total costs commercial aviation: €2-8B•2012 research: Mean total costs per strike >$200.000•Secondary financial damages multiple of primary (physical) damages

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions3

Challenges in bird control

Different means for different situations:•Short range vs. long range•Short term vs. long term•Uncontrolled vs. controlled•Immediate vs. regular

The BCU stops at the borders of an airport

Most bird control means do not trigger instinct, leading to habituation•Only a few ways to influence the entire eco-system: Habitat management

There is lack of a highly effective, completely controllable, sustainable, natural way of chasing birds and influencing long term bird behavior

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions4

The Robirds

Robotic birds of prey•Look like and fly like real birds

Birds react instinctively when confronted with the “predator” •Direct response <250m Notice & tell >2km•No habituation: Instinct •Highly increased perceived predation risk •Long term decrease in bird pressure

Four things on a bird’s mind: Feeding, breeding, sleeping vs. predation

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions5

Waste management trial

Twence Waste & Energy•Flight area of 55 hectares (136 acres)•Gulls (500), jackdaws and crows (200)

Goal: To create the hunting grounds of a falcon and to significantly reduce long term bird pressure in the area

Results: •Gulls: 50-95% reduction •Jackdaws and crows: 50%-70% reduction•Availability of food in the surroundings and activity on site•Behavioral change: Nervous & scared, easily disturbed•They only come back for food!

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions6

Schiphol Airport

2013:•52.6 million passangers•>1.5 million tonnes cargo•>425.000 aircraft movements

Bird control:•~7 strikes / 10.000 movements•BCU: 18 pax•Budget: €2.5 million

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions7

Schiphol Airport

Agricultural fields causing problems •Lapwings and other waders nesting•Geese migration: Arrive in an abundance of food

The problem is based outside the fences of the airport

Trial•Focus on operations just outside the airport•Close cooperation with avian radar for higher

efficiency•Combination with laser / acoustics. Incremental

techniques boosting total efficiency

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions8

Safety aspects

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions9

Safety aspects: ProportionalityNo interference with normal air traffic•200m from the Polderbaan runway at all times•Radio contact with ATC..? NO!!

1 pilot-in-command, 1 observer-pilot

Electronic aids for the pilots•Range limit: 250m•Automatic return home•Automatic quick landing•GPS based geofencing

Secondary simple control system

Advantage: In case of catastrophic failure, the Robird comes down

Equivalent Level of Safety: ~10-7

Even if the system fails every 30 minutes (!)(but have rather not...)

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions10

Safety aspects: Future

Radar integration•Avian radar•Aviation radar

Object detection & collision avoidance•Visual flow: Sensors in the eyes•LIDAR

PROPORTIONALITY: •Even without all this, can crash every 30 minutes, still ELOS•~700 grams•Professional, trained pilots NOT seeking danger

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions11

Lining up all stakeholders

•Schiphol Airport

•Civil Aviation Authorities General permission for RPAS operations •Air Traffic Control Specific permission and cooperation for RPAS

operations inside CTR

•Robin Radar Systems Avian radar systems

•Airlines Informing about project and plans for general acceptance Supported by EasyJet & KLM

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions12

In conclusion

•Robirds influence an entire eco-system: Habitat management combined with state-of the art technology•We make aviation safer!

•With proper consultation and support of all stakeholders involved, permission for in-CTR operations is possible•Most important: Educating people about RPAS

23 March 2015 - ICAO RPAS Conference Montreal - © Clear Flight Solutions13

WE CREATE BIRDS

Contact information:Nico Nijenhuis

+31 - (0)6 1360 4347n.nijenhuis@clearflightsolutions.com

Clear Flight SolutionsInstitutenweg 257521 PH EnschedeThe Netherlands

www.clearflightsolutions.com