No. H035/06
For release May 17, 2006
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.
The Canadian Aviation Regulations have been changed to require airports to
assess the risk of wildlife strikes based on individual situations. This means
evaluating the risk based on the types and numbers of wildlife around the
airport, the level of aircraft traffic, the type of aircraft using the airport
and the type of aircraft operations.
"The amendments will enhance safety at Canadian airports,"said Minister Cannon.
"These changes will help reduce the risk of a bird or other wildlife colliding
with an aircraft near an airport."
Prevention of bird strikes begins at the airport, because the majority of bird
strike incidents occur within the airport environment during the takeoff, climb,
final approach, landing and taxi phases of the flight.
The goal of wildlife management programs at airports is to discourage all
wildlife from seeking food, water and shelter at airports and their surroundings
so as to reduce the hazards to planes and people.
The changes were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on May 17, 2006.
For more information on wildlife management, please visit Transport Canada's
Civil Aviation website
at www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/menu.htm.
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Contact:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Lucie Vignola
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
BACKGROUNDER
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 serious 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.
May 2006
