WASPS AS AN AVIATION HAZARD - WBA virtual Conference 14th January 2021 Presenter: Phil Shaw (Ecosure) Co-authors: Alan House ...
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WASPS AS AN
AVIATION HAZARD
WBA virtual Conference
14th January 2021
Presenter: Phil Shaw (Ecosure) pshaw@avisure.com
Co-authors: Alan House (ELA), Matt Hill (Qantas), Jackson Ring (BAC)
Pitot Tubes • Airspeed indicators • Usually 3 pitot probes on an airliner • If blocked can provide inaccurate airspeed indication to pilots
Fatal Incidents
September 1980, Flight 65,
Florida Commuter Airlines
DC-3 crashed on takeoff from
West Palm Beach, Florida:
× 34 fatalities
× Cause undetermined but
possibly attributed to
wasps
A Douglas DC-3 similar to the accident
aircraft
(Source; Wikipedia)
Fatal Incidents
February 1996, Flight 301,
Birgenair Boeing 757 crashed
on takeoff from Puerto Plata,
Dominican Republic:
× 189 fatalities
× Cause attributed to wasps
× Birgenair went bankrupt
TC-GEN, the aircraft involved in the
accident, seen in October 1994
(Source; Wikipedia)
Brisbane Airport Incidents
January to March 2006
× 3 x A330 incidents where pitot probes gave inconsistent readings
(Appendix 1). Flights were either rejected on take-off or proceeded to
their destination.
November 2013
× Etihad A330 rejected takeoff because of
airspeed indication failure
× During second takeoff, airspeed
discrepancy after V1, A/C took off and
returned under MAYDAY for heavy
landing
2014 onwards (Source; ATSB)
× Several incidents including 2 PAN https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigat
ion_reports/2013/aair/ao-2013-212/
Brisbane Airport Wasp Study Panels of 3D printed plastic replica probes installed around the airport: × Checked at least every 2 weeks × Nests hatched in lab and assessed for species, sex, incubation period, success rate, etc.
The Culprit
× Pachodynerus nasidens (keyhole
wasp)
× South/Central America, now
found in southern USA, Hawaii,
western Pacific islands
× New arrival in Australia?
The Journey
Probe Preference Type diameter (mm) Blockage rate ERJ90 2.4 1.3 DNC-8 4.0 14.6 B737-800 5.0 23 A330 5.5 23 B737-400 7.2 44 B747-400 8 13
Number of probes blocked
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Feb-16
Ma r-16
Apr-16
Ma y-16
Jun-16
Jul-16
Aug-16
Sep-16
Oct-16
Nov-16
Dec-16
Jan-17
Feb-17
Ma r-17
Apr-17
Ma y-17
Jun-17
Jul-17
Aug-17
Sep-17
no. of blockages
Oct-17
Month/year
Nov-17
Dec-17
Jan-18
Feb-18
me an max
Ma r-18
Apr-18
Ma y-18
Jun-18
Jul-18
Aug-18
Sep-18
Oct-18
Seasonal Preference
Nov-18
Dec-18
Jan-19
Feb-19
Ma r-19
Apr-19
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Mean Mmaximum temperature °COther Attributes × Prefer temperatures 24 to 310C × Incubation times varied from 16 to 138 days with an average of 45 × Grassed areas within 1000 m of probes are preferred × More males emerged at a ratio of 1.53:1 × Probe volume may determine sex of emerging wasps × Blockages can occur within 30mins of arrival at the aircraft bay
Prey Items × Lepidoptera (moth/butterfly Larvae)
Inside the Nest
Wasp Larva
Prey Items
Prey Items
Bowtie Risk Assessment
Risk of Spread
Risk Mitigation
× Awareness:
- NOTAMS and supplements
- Stakeholder groups
- CASA safety bulletin
× Pitot covers
× Vegetation management
× TrapsPitot Covers
More Information Email: pshaw@avisure.com
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