Bird-strike study at Chch Airport

Press, 11 October 1985, Page 5

Bird-strike study at Chch Airport

Two research studies on bird strikes at Christchurch Airport will be made in the next 12 months.

The Christchurch City Council’s airport and electricity committee yesterday approved the studies, which will , cost 327,000. They will investigate ground cover and monitor bird activity at the airport One study ($2500) will look at ways of planting the areas near the airport to discourage insects that attract birds. Dr R. A. Harrison and Mr R. Keating will study ground covers to determine the best plants to use. Dr Harrison is an entomologist and Mr Keating the airport’s farm consultant.

Advice indicates that long growth, suitably sprayed against insects, discourages birds from feeding on the airfield. It also discourages

nesting. The airport director, Mr Hugh McCarroll, said some treatment of the airfield would be made before this summer once the study had been done. The second study (324,560) will monitor bird movements for 12 months. Dr Peter Harper, of the University of Canterbury extension studies department, will be asked to "conduct a rigorous review of bird activities” and to set up monitoring procedures to allow measurement of changes in activity. A review of bird strikes has been investigated by Mr McCarroll, the Civil Aviation Division, and ornithologists. They decided that responsibility for airfield management to minimise birds was that of the airport authority, the City Council,

and that responsibility for day-to-day bird control measures was that of Aviation Security. In the past both the airport management and Civil Aviation have shot birds. The studies would provide valuable information on a continuing problem at the airoort,saidCrMorganFahey. The last bird strike at the airport was on July 29 when an Air New Zealand Boeing 747 flew into a flock of oystercatchers moments after take-off. The aircraft made a successful emerS landing after shutting two engines and dumping fuel Cr Fahey said Dr Harper had been studying birds round the airport and the role of the now-closed Sawyers Arms Road tip in attracting them. The study would be a continuation of this.