2008 Bird Strike Committee USA/Canada Meeting

 

Hosted by Orlando-Sanford International Airport

 

BSC-USA and AAAE partner in highly successful meeting
New BSC-USA Chairperson selected

 

Hurricane Fay could not dampen the enthusiasm and success of the 10th Bird Strike Committee USA/Canada meeting in Lake Mary, Florida, 18-21 August.  In spite of over 10 inches of rain and high winds, the 450 attendees were treated to an outstanding technical program that included three featured speakers, an array of 34 technical presentations, and 16 technical posters.  The conference was rounded off with a highly instructive field trip to view wildlife risk mitigation efforts at Orlando-Sanford International Airport, an early-bird training session in safe use of pyrotechnics, and various social events (including two hurricane parties!).

 

During the annual meeting, the Steering Committee of BSC-USA elected John Ostrom, Manager, Airside Operations at Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport, as the new Chairperson of BSC-USA.  John replaces Richard Dolbeer who had served in that capacity since 1997.

 

Featured speakers at the 2008 conference were:

 

Honorable John Mica Ranking Republican, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Stephen J. Payne             NASA Shuttle Test Director, Launch and Landing Division, Kennedy Space Center

Larry Dale                                   President/CEO, Sanford Airport Authority, Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB)

 

Click here for agenda of the 34 technical papers and 16 posters that covered a wide array of topics for mitigating the risks of wildlife hazards to aviation.  Click here for abstracts of all technical presentations and posters.  Click here for peer-reviewed papers from meeting that were published in the Fall 2009 issue of the Journal, Human-Wildlife Conflicts.

 

*Conference included the Fourth Annual DeTect Bird Strike BBQ and Jamfest and Educational Exhibits during Field Trip to SFB by Audubon of Florida, Center for Birds of Prey (Maitland) & Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens (Sanford)