WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AT AIRPORTS

Changes regarding wildlife management at Canadian airports have been made to the Canadian Aviation Regulations. The changes require airports to assess the risk of wildlife strikes based on local situations. This means evaluating risk based on the species living around the airport, the size of the wildlife population, the level of traffic and the type of aircraft using the airport.

Transport Canada's regulations require wildlife incidents at airports to be reported to the department so that information is available to warn pilots of wildlife hazards, as well as to monitor trends. The regulations also enable researchers to access, analyze and interpret statistical information from across North America.

Wildlife management programs at airports aim to discourage all wildlife from using the airport and surrounding areas as habitat or for feeding purposes, thereby reducing the risks associated with aircraft collisions.

With the population of some North American species increasing, more active steps are required. For example, from 1990 to 1999, the Canada goose population significantly increased from an estimated two million to six million birds. Many Canada geese are not migrating south for the winter and therefore pose a problem to aviation safety year-round.

Preventing bird strikes at airports is critical because they generally occur during the takeoff, climb, final approach, landing and taxi phases of the flight. Aircraft engines are not designed to withstand the impact of large birds and, despite the fact that newer engines can handle a greater impact than previous designs, this is still a risk to aviation safety. To put it into perspective, if a 6.8-kg Canada goose strikes an aircraft travelling at about 460 km/h, it will generate an impact of approximately 27,000 kg. If the same goose strikes the same aircraft travelling at 555 km/h, it will create over 37,000 kg of impact force.

While bird strikes involving a jet-powered passenger aircraft have not resulted in any deaths in Canada, one of Transport Canada's main objectives is to maintain safe operations at airports by providing them with the tools to help minimize risks to aircraft. These tools include wildlife management bulletins that provide information on new developments in wildlife management techniques and equipment, and a wildlife control procedures manual that provides tactical guidance to wildlife management personnel for use in the field.

For more information on wildlife management, please visit Transport Canada's Civil Aviation website at www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/menu.htm.

November 2007