Airports' Strategies To Prevent Bird Strikes And Ensure Safety

Bird strikes are a common and costly occurrence for airports and aviation companies across the world. While bird strikes rarely cause plane crashes, they can still cause significant damage to aircraft engines, windscreens, and the structural integrity of the plane. Airports have implemented a variety of methods to prevent bird strikes, including habitat modification, bird effigies, bird repellent sprays, distress calls, and bird detection radar. Despite these efforts, bird strikes continue to occur, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem.

Using bird repellent to deter birds from nesting or flying near airports

Bird strikes are a serious hazard to aircrafts, their passengers, and crew members. Airports are designed in ways that make them attractive to birds, such as by being located near undisturbed grassland and water. This makes bird strikes a common occurrence, especially during takeoff and landing.

Bird repellent is an effective method to deter birds from nesting or flying near airports. Bird repellents come in various forms, including sprays, gels, and fogs. They can be applied directly to bird-hazard areas, such as runways, hangars, and waiting planes. For example, Flight Control® Max is a bird repellent spray that can be applied to areas around airports to keep bird populations away from aircraft. It is designed not to wash off in the rain, ensuring consistent results.

Another type of bird repellent is the touch deterrent, such as the Bird Repellent Gel, which prevents birds from roosting and gathering in unwanted areas. The sticky sensation on their feet and the non-toxic MA smell discourage birds from returning.

Physical deterrents, such as Bird Slope, are also effective in preventing birds from landing or nesting in narrow places. These deterrents can be permanently or temporarily installed and come in visually unobtrusive colors.

Visual deterrents, such as flash tape, predator eye balloons, hawk decoys, and reflective eye diverters, are easily spotted by birds and work well to scare them away. These deterrents should be changed or moved regularly to maintain their effectiveness.

Olfactory repellents, such as Methyl Anthranilate (MA), found in deterrents like Avian Block and Avian Control, can also be effective in repelling most bird species. The non-toxic scent acts like pepper spray, irritating the eyes, noses, and throats of birds.

By using these bird repellents and deterrents, airports can reduce the risk of bird strikes and ensure the safety of aircraft, passengers, and crew members.

Modifying habitats surrounding airports to make them less desirable for birds

Modifying the habitats surrounding airports is a crucial strategy to make these areas less desirable for birds and reduce the risk of bird strikes. Bird strikes, or wildlife collisions, occur when birds come into contact with aircraft, leading to costly repairs, delays, or even emergency landings. While it is challenging to completely eradicate the risk, modifying the surrounding habitats can significantly reduce the chances of bird strikes.

One approach is to remove food sources for birds by managing insect populations using chemicals. This reduces the available food, making the area less attractive for nesting and foraging. Additionally, covering nearby water sources, such as ponds, with netting prevents birds from landing and utilizing these areas for drinking or bathing. Keeping the grass short is another effective strategy, as it denies birds potential shelter and hiding places within the grass.

Some airports have also introduced natural predators to control bird populations. For example, Frankfurt Airport brought in ten foxes to reduce the mouse population, thereby decreasing the food sources for birds. The introduction of natural predators can help create an environment that birds perceive as less safe and secure for nesting and foraging.

In addition to these methods, airports can employ various tools and technologies to make the area less desirable for birds. Lasers, noise generators, and distress calls projected through speakers can disrupt the habitat and discourage birds from settling in the area. While these methods can be effective, birds may eventually adapt and return to the area, so consistent adaptation of strategies is necessary.

By implementing these habitat modification techniques, airports can significantly reduce the attractiveness of their surroundings to birds, minimizing the risk of bird strikes and enhancing the safety of aircraft, passengers, and crew members.

Using birds of prey, lasers, noise generators, or distress calls to scare birds away

Birds can be scared away from airports using birds of prey, lasers, noise generators, or distress calls. Birds of prey are rarely used at US airports due to the costs of training and maintenance. However, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport employed this method to chase birds away from a parking lot. The key is to focus on a small area with a specific target and use them consistently.

Another method is using distress calls, which are broadcast to lure birds away from air traffic. While this method can be hit or miss, it has been successfully used at Dulles International Airport. Handheld lasers are also used to create a separation between birds and aircraft. They are a non-invasive, eco-friendly, and silent alternative to traditional deterrents. Lasers can be used both indoors and outdoors and are effective day and night.

Noise generators, such as speakers projecting distress calls, are another way to prevent birds from thinking an airport is a safe place to land. Additionally, airports can use remote-controlled vehicles, like cars and boats, to corral and march birds out of the area.

Employing trained spotters or bird detection radar to locate and track birds

Trained spotters are typically equipped with binoculars and tasked with finding and reporting birds to flight crews, changing flight paths, and dispersing them before they come into close contact with any aircraft. However, this method has limitations, including a lack of sophistication, inconsistency due to human error, and reduced accuracy in low-visibility conditions.

Bird detection radar systems, such as the Accipiter® NM1-24D Avian Radar System, offer a more advanced solution. This technology is designed to detect and track small airborne targets, including birds, drones, and aircraft of all sizes. Radar systems provide real-time data on bird size, speed, direction, and flight path, enabling operators to make informed decisions and quickly respond to potential threats. Additionally, radar technology allows for long-term analysis of bird patterns and behaviour, enhancing wildlife management policies.

Some airports, like Schiphol Airport, have transitioned from manual detection by spotters to radar systems, improving their ability to react faster and mitigate the risk of bird strikes. Radar technology complements the work of Bird Controllers, providing critical data for decision-making and enabling proactive bird strike prevention.

While bird detection radar is a valuable tool, it is just one component of a comprehensive approach to bird strike prevention. Airports also employ methods such as habitat management, the use of bird repellent sprays, and the creation of unattractive environments for nesting or feeding to reduce the risk of bird strikes.

Working with wildlife authorities to encourage birds to nest away from airports

Working with wildlife authorities is a crucial aspect of encouraging birds to nest away from airports. This collaborative effort involves implementing strategies that consider the behaviour and needs of birds, ensuring that they find alternative, safer spaces to inhabit. Here are some measures that can be taken as part of this joint initiative:

Habitat Modification: Airports can modify the surrounding habitat to make it less appealing to birds. This includes removing food sources, covering water bodies to prevent birds from landing, and maintaining short grass to discourage nesting. By reducing the availability of resources, birds are encouraged to seek alternative locations.

Bird Effigies: Hanging real or stuffed dead vultures or turkey vultures, for example, can be an effective way to deter certain bird species. The sight or smell of their deceased peers can prompt a flight response, encouraging them to vacate the area.

Use of Birds of Prey: While less common due to the costs, trained birds of prey can be utilised to chase away roosting birds from specific areas within the airport premises. This method requires a focused and consistent approach, targeting small areas with a specific bird threat.

Audio and Visual Deterrents: Airports can employ noise generators, distress calls, and pyrotechnics to create an unfavourable environment for birds. These methods aim to trigger the birds' primary instincts, making them feel unsafe and encouraging them to seek nesting options elsewhere.

Laser Technology: Lasers can be used to disrupt the habitat and create an uncomfortable environment for birds, encouraging them to relocate.

By combining these strategies and working closely with wildlife experts, airports can effectively encourage birds to nest away from their premises, reducing the risk of bird strikes and ensuring the safety of aircraft, passengers, and crew members.

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