AQUILA ima is a computer application developed by the STAC to assist airport staff in their daily animal risk management and evaluation tasks. Available on tablet and computer server, AQUILA ima software is a complete tool for :

Background

Since 1979, the member states of the ICAO have been invited to report all bird impacts recorded worldwide. In Europe, since 2003, Eurocontrol has asked EU member states to collect, analyze, process and store aviation safety information. In France, the 2007 decree provided that animal impacts be collected at national level.

About PICA

Animal species encountered

Birds of prey represent the highest number of collisions at national level as they are responsible for approximately 30% of cases. The birds of prey most commonly involved are the Common Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Barn Owl.

Animal collisions are only followed up in 15% of cases. However, these incidents classified as serious correspond with collisions that have had the following effects: fairly serious damage to the aircraft’s structure or engines and also other impacts on air safety or airlines’ operations such as: engine stop, caution landing, take-off interrupted, U-turn, delay.

The evaluation of the animal risk on airfields is a procedure covered by several international recommendations and regulatory European and French texts.

The method developed by the STAC makes it possible to identify, at each airfield, the animal species that pose a danger to aviation safety in view of the collisions they are involved in and their level of presence observed throughout the year within the airfield.

In the civil air transport sector, around 1,200 animal encounters are registered each year in France. 700 of them occur within the volume of the airfield and mainly concern birds. 9% of the collisions are judged serious for air safety and caused structural damage and/or operating delays.

Simulation of landings and take-offs at Lyon-Saint-Exupéry

Why the simulation?

Differences between analytical method and simulation method

The airport capacity is that of the weakest link

Airport capacity overall

The airport’s capacity is that of the weakest link in the airport chain: terminal airspace, runway system, taxiways, aircraft parking areas, terminal (passenger processing) and even airport access (access roads and car parks). The capacity must therefore be subject to an overall analysis.

An “eloquent” criterion for the general public due to its apparent simplicity, airport capacity (aircraft or passenger flows the airport is capable of handling) has become one of the major issues in the airport development and planning debate. Capacity studies can have various aims: