"Bird strikes a legal issue for Australian airports"

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Bird strikes a legal issue for airports
By Peter Morley
Australia - The Brisbane Courier Mail

 
AIRPORT operators that do not take steps to minimise aircraft bird strikes
have been warned they could face legal action.

Licensed airports such as Brisbane and large provincial centres are required
to manage the problem of galahs, ibis, ducks and bats. 

They grow special grasses that do not attract birds, or scare them off with
sound canons, dogs or other birds of prey. 

But the incidence of bird strike at licensed airports is still high, with
Queensland strips reporting eight of the 21 in Australia in the week to
March 4 to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 

Four occurred in Brisbane and two in Cairns, while Mackay and Horn Island
each had one. 

Each year more than 1300 incidents of aircraft hitting birds are reported,
with about 150 planes damaged. It is estimated that bird strikes cost the
airline industry nearly $1.5 billion worldwide and, since 1988, have led to
195 pilot and passenger fatalities. 

A 1995 incident involving a jet taking off from the Gold Coast cost Qantas
$8 million in engine repairs and lost revenue because of rescheduling
requirements. 

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority yesterday warned airport operators to
manage bird strikes. 

"It is possible legal action could be taken against people or organisations
that have failed to take reasonable steps to prevent birds strikes," a
spokesman said. 

"All aerodromes must have a bird management strategy which gathers
information on the risk of bird strikes, counts bird numbers and develops
action plans to manage high risk species."


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