Abstract
We here review the collision risks posed by large-bodied, flocking geese to aircraft, exacerbated by recent major increases in northern hemisphere goose populations and air traffic volume. Mitigation of goose–aircraft strike risks requires knowledge of local goose movements, global goose population dynamics and ecology. Airports can minimise goose strikes by managing habitats within the airport property, applying deterrents to scare geese away and lethal control, but goose migration and movements at greater spatial scales present greater challenges. Habitat management outside of airports can locally reduce goose attractiveness of peripheral areas, but requires stakeholder involvement and coordination. Information on bird strike rates, individual goose movements and goose population dynamics is essential to understand how best to reduce the risk of goose strikes. Avian radar provides tactical information for mitigation measures and strategic data on local patterns of goose migration and habitat use. In the face of expanding air traffic, goose distributions and populations, these threats need to be integrated with other local, national and international stakeholder involvement to secure viable solutions to multiple conflicts.
Highlights
Collisions between wildlife and aircraft are increasing globally and present a disproportionate challenge around airports where aircraft are vulnerable during approach, landing and take-off (Dolbeer 2011)
This has been demonstrated by events such as the crash landing of an United States Air Force E-3 Sentry at Elmendorf AFB in September 1995 that resulted in 24 fatalities and the forced landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in New York’s Hudson River in January 2009; both events were the result of engine ingestions of multiple Canada Geese Branta canadensis (Flight Safety Foundation 1996; Marra et al 2009)
Many airports adhere to regulatory guidance by removing geese by lethal means onsite as a last line of defence, its use is highly dependent on location and operational constraints
Summary
Collisions between wildlife and aircraft (usually bird strikes) are increasing globally and present a disproportionate challenge around airports where aircraft are vulnerable during approach, landing and take-off (Dolbeer 2011). Airport operators are responsible under national and international legislation for mitigating the risks of bird strikes involving geese, and have used a variety of tools to achieve this aim This is becoming important given the rapid increases in some goose populations (see below) and the average 5.8% annual increase in global air traffic passengers between 2005 and 2016 (Statista 2016). S291 of international approaches and policy on the issue of bird strikes (see review in Buurma 2006) culminating in the development of safety standards ratified by the world community under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (IBSC 2006) In this analysis, we review some of the methods used to reduce goose presence in the onsite vicinity of airports, including habitat management, disturbance and lethal control. We recommend finding mechanisms to facilitate collaboration on research, experiences and data sharing, and the importance of a biological understanding of the behaviour, migration, distribution, ecology and population dynamics of the goose species causing issues
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