Attention News Editors
OTTAWA, May 17 /CNW Telbec/ - 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 website at www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/menu.htm.
<< 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 the Transport Canada website at www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/menu.htm. >>
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 www.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.
