The Importance of Bird Control in and around Airports
Last month, yet another incident made headlines after a bird strike took out both of its engines, forcing US Airways Flight 1549 to make an emergency crash landing. A flock of approximately eight-pound (3.5-kilogram) geese had apparently brought down a plane, plunging it and 155 people into the frigid waters of the Hudson River.

With soaring air traffic and migratory birds recovering from DDT and other pesticides, the number of bird strikes has been rising over the last 20 years, from about 1,500 in 1990 to about 8,000 last year.

Bird strikes to aircraft have been a concern since the first recorded fatal bird strike in 1912. More recently, bird strikes have led to fatal accidents for large military aircraft in both 1995 and 1996 and to a commercial airliner in 1988. Increasing North American populations of birds such as geese and ducks have led to a significant increase in the threat to aircraft, especially in areas on or near airports. The probability of a fatal bird strike accident can be estimated based on the past bird strike record. Specifically, the following analysis will estimate the probability of a fatal accident involving a bird strike to a large jet transport aircraft occurring in the next ten years in the U.S. or Canada.

Since 1990 the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has compiled statistics on bird strikes. Richard Dolbeer is the author of a report showing that 12 percent to 15 percent of the strikes result in damage to aircraft such as shown below here.

Still, to date, the most effective method of bird control around airports is the use of birds of prey and/or dogs. Contact us for details!

 

 

 

 

Transport Canada Update:
Improved Wildlife Management at Airports:
OTTAWA — The prevention of bird strikes is an important aspect of flight safety. A more consistent approach to wildlife management at Canadian airports, announced today by Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, is one tool to enhance flight safety.... more»

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Bird Hazards To Aircraft And Related Wildlife Control
Collisions with birds are a severe threat to the safety of the aviation industry. Human lives may be lost due to collisions and there is a constant threat of a major crash as a result of bird strikes. In addition, bird strikes cost airline companies as well as the military millions of dollars each year. Most studies on birds at airports have been related to the hazards birds pose to aircraft.

Hawkeye Bird Control Inc. is the leading firm in Canada with applied expertise in the control of birds for air safety purposes. Many of these control programs have focused on landfills near airports which frequently attract birds and create air safety problems.

Click image to enlarge

Wildlife Control At Airports
Hawkeye has extensive expertise in resolving wildlife control problems at airports. There are two steps to resolving bird or animal hazards to aircraft:

Identifying the problem a. How significant is the problem? b. When and where does the problem occur?
Developing a customized solution a. Assess bird or animal hazards to aircraft b. Determine the effects of airport development on wildlife c. Work with other disciplines to complete environmental impact assessment d. Determine the nuisance attraction of wildlife

Please email us with the details of your bird control challenge and we will develop a strategy to create a long term solution.

Understanding the Landfill Conection
Landfills are often located near airports or attract birds and animals (like bears) across airports. Assessment is the key to early problem resolution. HAWKEYE is capable of quickly determining the nature of the problem and how to remedy the situation by means of bird or animal control, removal, repellents, and/or barriers. Proper Control Activities are critical to successful control. Most ineffective programs are the result of improper application of control methods.

Environmental Impact Assessment
Despite the best site and design process, impacts from the construction and operation of airports and landfills are unavoidable. There are many issues that need to be addressed in addition to bird or wildlife hazards, such as noise, land and water contamination, traffic volumes, and other social and environmental issues.