The safety of airside operations at airports is a top priority. Wildlife strikes can result in damage to the aircraft, costly repairs, flight delays, and in extreme cases, fatal accidents. Understanding the importance of wildlife strike mitigation is crucial to ensuring the safety of passengers and the preservation of aircraft. But how does DNA sampling fit into this picture?
The Role of DNA Sampling:
DNA sampling is a valuable resource in the field of wildlife strike investigation and risk mitigation. In cases where an aircraft sustains damage from a wildlife strike, without any identifiable features, and only bloodstains as evidence, it becomes crucial for the airport to determine which species the bloodstains are from through DNA sampling.
Both eagles, large birds of prey, and egrets, sizable waterbirds, are capable of causing substantial damage to an aircraft. Developing effective mitigation plans for each species may necessitate distinctly tailored strategies towards airport wildlife hazard management methods. Armed with this knowledge, these teams can craft precise strategies aimed at mitigating the risk effectively. DNA sampling allows airports to make well-informed choices regarding habitat management and bolsters comprehensive data collection for their Wildlife Hazard Management Plans (WHMP). This is where DNA sampling can come into play to be a helpful asset to an airport.
When is DNA Sampling Needed?
Wildlife strikes vary in nature. DNA sampling is not necessary for every wildlife strike.
Strikes involving an identifiable carcass may not justify the expense or effort of sending them to a lab. It's advisable to employ DNA sampling when you encounter unknown body parts or bloodstains and face uncertainty regarding the species involved.
At times, the nearest DNA testing facilities can be situated far distances from the scene of the wildlife strike incident. When this situation arises, the process of sending DNA evidence can become prohibitively costly, particularly when dealing with stringent budget constraints within your organization or at the airport. In this case, it's advisable to develop a tailored DNA sampling protocol. An example of this could be sending samples exclusively for unidentified wildlife strikes causing significant damage to aircraft. Moreover, when a DNA lab is readily accessible, it's considered best practice to conduct tests whenever an unidentified wildlife strike occurs.
Advantages of Readily Available Wildlife Strike Kits:
A wildlife strike kit for DNA sampling is a comprehensive toolkit that includes various components designed to aid in the collection and preservation of biological samples from wildlife strike incidents. These kits should be strategically located in easily accessible areas near the airside to maximize effectiveness. It is important to note that DNA samples can become compromised when exposed to water, moisture, or sunlight, making early sampling and the availability of a ready-to-use kits crucial.
Components of a Wildlife Strike Kit:
Everything in a proper wildlife strike kit is designed to facilitate the collection and
preservation of biological samples from wildlife strike incidents. The specific contents of a wildlife strike kit may vary depending on the organization and its specific needs.
Instructions: Clear guidelines on how to collect, handle, and transport samples safely and effectively.
Clean, plastic resealable bags: Sealable bags to store collected samples securely.
Disposable gloves: Disposable gloves are essential for handling biological samples and preventing contamination.
Tweezers: To allow for precise and controlled handling of small or delicate biological materials, such as feathers, tissue, or small bone fragments.
Alcohol wipes: To use while collecting DNA sample, used to preserve sample and prevent cross-contamination, microbial growth, and degradation.
Labels and markers: To properly identify and document each sample.
Sterile swabs: Sterile swabs for collecting biological material, like feathers, blood, or tissue.
Labels and markers: To properly identify and document each sample.
Disposable masks: To protect personnel from inhaling potentially harmful airborne particles, including bird-related pathogens that may be present during the investigation.
Custody form: A form to document the transfer of samples, ensuring proper tracking and accountability.
Biohazard waste bags: Bags for disposing of used gloves, swabs, and any biohazardous materials.
After collecting the sample, it is advisable to transport it in a cooler or container equipped with ice packs to maintain a controlled temperature environment. Many airports have dedicated on-site wildlife strike freezers. It is recommended to have a freezer, even if it is a small one, available at any aerodrome for this purpose.
DNA sampling with proper wildlife strike kits makes for a powerful tool that enables airports to gather accurate, actionable data about wildlife populations in their perspective aerodromes. This information is essential for developing and implementing effective wildlife population control strategies that prioritize aviation safety.
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