Today, we’re speaking with Steven Bentley FRAeS, CEO of Sofema Aviation Services, about their specialized workshop: Aerodrome Bird Management – Essentials Overview for Aerodrome Safety & Quality Staff-3 Days-Workshop. Mr. Bentley, thank you for joining us.
Steven Bentley: My pleasure. It’s a critical area of safety that demands serious, focused attention.
The Unique Aspects of Bird Management Training
Q1: The course introduction highlights that the expectation for aerodrome operators alone to reduce bird strikes is unrealistic, emphasizing an “inclusive and integrated industry approach.” Could you elaborate on how this integrated approach forms the central philosophy of the 3-Day workshop?
Steven Bentley: The core idea is that bird strike management isn’t just a wildlife control issue; it’s an SMS-based systemic safety issue. We move beyond the assumption that airport staff simply need better tools for scaring birds. Our integrated approach stresses the necessary collaboration between Airport Management, Safety/Quality staff, Post Holders, and even operators’ flight procedures and reporting. The training provides the Safety and Quality personnel with the tools to audit and manage this multi-stakeholder system, not just the birds themselves.
Q2: A key benefit mentioned is learning to develop a Bird Control Management Plan. What is the most critical, often overlooked element of an effective management plan that this workshop focuses on?
Steven Bentley: The most critical element is the financial review and costing of bird strikes. Many airports fail to accurately assess the inclusive costs—direct, indirect, and consequential costs like delays, reputation damage, and man-hours spent on investigations. Our training emphasizes that by accurately quantifying the true financial risk, managers can justify the investment in effective, long-term mitigation, moving the discussion from an operational expense to a safety-driven financial priority.
Q3: The course content includes ‘Birdstrike Remains Identification.’ Why is this specific, technical skill important for Safety & Quality Assurance staff, rather than just the operational bird control team?
Steven Bentley: Accurate remains identification is vital for data integrity and risk prioritization. Safety and Quality staff performing audits and risk assessments must be able to verify that the operational team is collecting accurate data. Knowing the species involved allows an airport to define their birdstrike risk management priorities correctly, tailoring their habitat management and active dispersal efforts to the specific, most hazardous wildlife species, as detailed on Day 2 of the workshop.
Q4: Day 1 covers ‘Aerodrome Ecology’ and Day 2 features ‘Habitat Management.’ What is the fundamental difference between these two concepts as taught in the course, and why is that distinction crucial for effective bird control?
Steven Bentley: Aerodrome Ecology is the understanding about why birds are attracted to your airport in the first place, identifying sources of food, water, and shelter. Habitat Management is the action-it’s the strategic, long-term measure of modifying the environment (like grass height, drainage, and waste control) to make it unattractive. The distinction is crucial because active dispersal (like using pyrotechnics) only treats the symptom; only long-term Habitat Management addresses the root ecological cause.
Q5: The course aims to teach participants how to implement an effective SMS-based company Bird management policy. How does this training link bird control directly to the airport’s overall Safety Management System (SMS)?
Steven Bentley: We frame bird strike mitigation as a core SMS process. The training provides managers with a framework to integrate bird management into their Risk Assessment, Monitoring, Data Collection, and Audit programs. The plan isn’t just a stand-alone document; it becomes a documented process with defined responsibilities and reporting lines, ensuring that bird strikes are treated with the same SMS rigor as any other operational hazard.
Sofema’s Position and Course Development
Q6: Sofema Aviation Services offers over 500 courses. How does the development process for a highly specialized, niche workshop like Bird Management at the Aerodrome differ from creating a standard EASA regulatory course?
Steven Bentley: With niche courses, the difference lies in the depth of operational experience required for content creation. While a standard EASA course relies on interpreting established regulation, this workshop must synthesize global best practices (ICAO, EASA, IBSC), real-world accident data, and practical techniques like Bird Behavior Modification and equipment usage. We bring in consultants who are not just regulatory experts but have boots-on-the-ground experience in wildlife hazard management.
Q7: As a leading force in regulatory training, how does Sofema continually update and evolve its course content to stay ahead of the curve, especially in an area like wildlife management where regulations and best practices are constantly refined?
Steven Bentley: Our regulatory training development is a continuous feedback loop. We actively monitor safety publications from EASA, ICAO, and bodies like the International Bird Strike Committee (IBSC). Crucially, the practical workshop element allows our instructors to incorporate the latest operational lessons learned and delegate feedback from various global aerodromes, ensuring the content reflects the most effective, current mitigation measures.
Q8: The course emphasizes data collection for bird’s presence and bird strikes. With the rise of technology like Bird Radar, does the course cover the use of advanced surveillance and data analysis tools, or does it focus primarily on traditional methods?
Steven Bentley: The training covers the principles of data collection and analysis, which are technology-agnostic. While it discusses the value of monitoring and logging (The Bird Control Log), the emphasis is on how to use the data to reveal trends and perform effective risk assessments, regardless of whether the data is gathered via traditional patrols or advanced radar systems. It equips the manager to define their data requirements and audit the system’s effectiveness.
Q9: Who typically delivers this specialist training, and what specific background do they need to bring to the workshop to provide maximum value to the Safety and Quality delegates?
Steven Bentley: The training is delivered by consultants with extensive backgrounds in Aerodrome Operations, Safety Management Systems, and Wildlife Hazard Management. They must possess not only a deep understanding of ICAO/EASA requirements but also practical experience in developing and implementing certified Wildlife Hazard Management Plans at major airports. Their role is to facilitate the workshops and provide practical context.
Q10: Finally, what is your long-term vision for Sofema’s role in providing this highly specialized tier of regulatory and operational training to the global aviation community?
Steven Bentley: Our vision is to continue to be the leading, most cost-effective, and highest-quality partner for the global aviation industry, not just in standard regulatory compliance but in these highly specialized operational safety areas. We aim to equip every aviation professional, from the frontline technician to the Post Holder, with the precise knowledge needed to manage complex safety challenges like bird strikes, thereby significantly enhancing global aviation safety standards.
Next Steps
Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) and Sofema Online (SOL) offer Bird Management at the Aerodrome – Essentials Overview for Airlines Safety & Quality Staff – 2 Days
as classroom, webinar & online training please see the websites or email [email protected]
Tags:
Post Holders, SAS blogs, Aerodrome Operators, Airport Management, quality staff, bird strikes, Bird Management at the Aerodrome, safety issue, Bird Control Management Plan, financial risk, collecting accurate data, Aerodrome Ecology, Habitat Management
