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| Bird Strikes at Airports |
BirdStrike collisions are a problem that needs to be taken seriously as the number
of commercial and private aircraft bird strikes continues to grow worldwide.
The United States alone spends over $500 million annually to repair damage to
aircraft and worldwide the cost is over a billion.
• The first fatal accident occurred in 1912
• Since 1960, approx. 400 aircraft have been destroyed
• Over 370 people killed as a result of bird and other wildlife strikes
Bird
Strikes typically involve birds or bats striking windshields of aircraft or
getting sucked into engines. Bird Strikes can also cause damage to building or
structures on the ground if a serious accident were to occur. The most common
locations for bird striking aircraft is during take off and landings, although
there has been occurrence’s at higher altitudes. Probably the most famous bird strike is when
a US Airways flight was struck by a massive flock of geese causing it to loss
power and heroically landed in the Hudson River. Luckily everyone walked away
from the accident unharmed, but since that day the airport has increased man
power and money spent on bird strike prevention and the number of bird strikes
has gone up not down.
Bird
Strike problem birds & wildlife
In the United States gulls and geese are
the common cause of bird strikes do to their large size and populations. But
other birds like turkey vultures, kites, pelicans, starlings and pigeons can
also contribute to aircraft collisions. Large
animals like deer and coyote have been known to run in front of aircraft during
take offs and landings, which often causes more damage to the aircraft then
birds. An often over looked bird strike hazard is the presence of rabbits at
airports. Rabbits can indirectly cause bird strikes by getting run over by
ground vehicles and planes; they generate a large amount of droppings, which
attracts mice. All of this is not that bad except mice attract owls.
The
United States relies on outdated Bird Strike prevention techniques.
The
US tax payers spend millions and millions of dollars a year on Bird Strike products and labor and getting very little in return for their investment. BASH
bird strike programs currently used in the US are labor intensive - typically
involving personnel in trucks shooting bird bangers or outright killing in
addition to other harassment techniques that fail to permanently modify
roosting or flight conditions. Similarly, other sub-par audio systems are also deployed but seldom produce a permanent solution as
birds habituate to the 'same sound, same
speaker syndrome'. Some airports in the US have set up radar systems to warn
them of approaching bird flocks. These systems are very expensive and often
times misidentify the potential treat. At best, radars give workers a heads up
to a potential threat - only to resort to the same obsolete harassment
techniques.
Combine the Zon Gun Mark IV Propane Bird Scare cannon, which is best when used with a tripod and timer, with multiple visual scare products that are problem bird species specific. The Mark IV rotating tripod provides 360 degree coverage of the control area, while the while the Quartz timer allow you to set when you would like the bird cannon to turn on and off. Airport problems can be complicated because of the layout and it is often multiple species of birds that are in the area. Feel free to call us to discuss a custom solution of bird control products designed for your airport at 855-741-3222 or email us at mark@birdsgottago.com
