Dr Tom Kelly for Irish Aviation Authority addressing his last meeting gave an overview of 2014 race programmes/issues and was pleased to report no bird strikes recorded during the season. A huge reduction of activity was also reported from Baldoyle. The good work over the last number of years has paid big dividends, and all the members were thanked for their help and support. Each organization present gave a report on their own racing season, poor weather resulted in some poor races. Kevin Humphries for IAA also gave a report and covered some of the local problems at the Airport especially at the present time with Irish Hare and Curlew which are both protected species. One training flight was detected with a liberation of birds at The Kennel Club close to the line of flight for the planes landing, this had been dealt with and no further release was observed.
Copies of some race programmes were placed for 2015, some have still to be finalized. Checks were made regarding some liberation points, some were ruled out as not suitable. Regarding DNA tests being carried out on pigeons over the year, it was asked if it would be possible to confirm if birds were feral or indeed racing pigeons. This would be looked at. Wildlife activity inside the perimeter of the airport is a big subject, they study why different species are attracted to the Airport. In the future this study is, under new EEC Rules, to extend to an 8KM radius of the Airport itself. Dublin Airport are leading the way on how they deal with bird hazard in aviation safety.
Gerry Keogh Chief Fire Officer at Dublin Airport gave an overview of Operations at Dublin Airport, and later conducted the members on a tour of the complex seeing where the planes take off and land, Gun Scaring methods and other bird scaring tools, Fridge and how they deal with wildlife killed gathering samples etc. We also had a demonstration of what an engine fire looks like, and the fire engines themselves are a good bit bigger than we see around town. All in all it was a very interesting discussion and tour, we are all hoping for a successful season in 2015. Many thanks to Petier van Velzen from IAA, who supplied me with some photos of the visit.
Pascal Mulcahy watching from the van.
