Birds Refuse To Leave Plane Alone

The group used specialized tools to force the door open. As soon as they pried the doorway apart, they heard a strange noise coming from inside. It was as if something was caught inside. As the group stepped inside, the sound of whatever was inside got louder.He realized that it was futile to try to gain altitude; he had to come back to the airport and put the aircraft on the tarmac. But, as he asked himself how he was going to do it, he felt a million questions arise in his mind. He knew it would not be an easy task, however, he felt resolute; there had to be a way of accomplishing this mission, and he was determined to find it. As they swam back to the other boats, both the passengers and cabin crew were filled with a sense of confusion and bewilderment. What could have possibly been on board that would attract such a fierce and relentless attack from the birds? The mystery lingered in the air, leaving everyone to speculate and wonder as they made their way to safety. Before they could even begin to wonder what the man was transporting, alarms of all kinds started to echo from wall to wall. Everyone stopped to investigate the scenario trying to decipher what could have disturbed the birds and analyze the contents of the man’s belongings.The birds once again began to swarm around the aircraft, their numbers growing with each passing moment. The workers on board watched in awe as the birds formed an almost impenetrable barrier, their wings beating in unison as they darkened the sky. It was a sight to behold, both beautiful and terrifying all at once, and the workers could feel their hearts racing with a mixture of excitement and fear. As they hovered precariously above the city, Jason acted quickly, directing the aircraft purposefully and safely towards the open expanse far below. Fortunately, his skill and knowledge as a pilot ensured that no one was in any danger as the plane soared away from the metropolis. When the police first questioned him about his luggage, clearly showing their suspicion about what it contained, he immediately regretted not having kept quiet. Nevertheless, the officers remained vigilant in their line of inquiry, paying close attention to the man’s body language, eager to discern whether his worries were founded in reality.This particular individual provided odd and inconsistent justifications for why he was moving about. He would change his story as he talked, which made it difficult to believe anything he said. He was evasive and provided answers that didn’t make any sense and tended to contradict one another. He certainly seemed to be hiding something, which made it clear that he was up to something.

The man was caught red-handed trying to illegally smuggle exotic birds. Upon further investigation and contact with other law enforcement agencies, it was learnt that the man was attempting to transport the birds without the proper paperwork or permissions. His ulterior motives were soon uncovered and he was detained for his criminal actions.

He felt it was his duty to make sure everybody on the ship was safe, and he was vigilant in his observance. He was attentively looking around and then noticed something.Unfortunately, he was having no luck, it seemed the harder he tried to get the birds off his plane, the more aggressive they became. He had no idea what was causing them to act so hostile, but it was becoming a major hindrance to his progress and seemed to be the only thing standing in his way. He attempted to resolve the issue but no matter what he did, nothing seemed to stop the birds from attacking with unfaltering aggression.

This man was a freshly released convicted felon with his documents sealed, leaving the government in a state of confusion in regards to what they had to work with. Having just been granted his freedom, his past was a big unknown, making the situation a tense one as no one knew what to expect. With the laws surrounding one who has served their time and the secrets of their past locked away, the uncertainty was palpable.As they carefully approached the tell-tale source of the sound, they could easily determine which suitcases it was coming from. Taking a collective breath, they all opened it together.

Upon hearing this, the coast guard took immediate action – they blasted warning sounds from their loudspeakers, with intensity and urgency. In an instant, something remarkable occurred – a sight that left even the most experienced members of the coast guard mesmerized.The travelers were filled with dread and dismay, some of them even letting out a sob or two. Jason had to act fast. He was in a race against time, and he had to make each moment count. The travelers were in a state of panic, some shedding tears of fear and despair. With haste and urgency, Jason acted to ensure no more fear or distress amongst the travelers. Every single moment he had was precious, and he could sense how frightened everyone was – he had to make sure no further agony befall his fellow travelers.

As the amount of birds began to increase, they also started to become louder and more daunting. But no matter how much he tried to reach out to the people from Flight Control, he just couldn’t seem to gain contact with them. He was stuck in a precarious situation with a group of wild birds becoming more and more aggressive by the minute.He was somewhat surprised when he noticed the birds flocking to the aircraft’s luggage compartment soon after they arrived at the site. This seemingly curious behavior might actually be the missing piece of the puzzle, leading to the solution of what occurred today in this location.

This time, as the ships drew closer, birds flocked to the surrounding area. The team located outside were quickly encompassed by the vast gathering of feathered creatures. It was as if millions of wings had descended from the sky to create a powerful aura around the ship and its crew.He was feeling quite a lot of pressure and need, so he became quite emotional. Lucky for him, one of the flight attendants was able to come and open the other plane door to the other exit.

As the exotic birds cried out for help, they launched an attack on the plane, causing Jason, who was present at the trial, to break down in tears of relief upon realizing that everyone was safe and secure. The birds attacked the plane because they could hear the exotic birds calling for assistance. Jason was relieved that they were all safe and not endangered anymore.Now things were really dangerous, having struck a few birds by turning the plane, and this only seemed to agitate the birds even more. The danger levels were rapidly increasing, and the airpace seemed to pick up as the birds reacted.

Eventually, Jason received a call instructing him to turn the plane around and head for the nearest landing strip. The flight control had directed them to redirect to a smaller airport that was closer to their current location. The passengers aboard the plane were starting to feel a deep sense of dread, not knowing what was causing the sudden drops and turns the aircraft was making unexpectedly. Glancing out of the windows, they saw an unnerving scene- it almost looked as if they had been transported into a Hitchcock movie, with a large flock of birds flooding the sky, making their presence known in a dramatic fashion. Despite being a unique sight, the passengers couldn’t help but feel paranoid about their predicament, unable to determine why their journey had been disturbed so abruptly. As the first group of people exited the aircraft, they found themselves under attack by the birds. Thankfully, the majority of the group managed to avoid the brunt of the assault by diving into the water, leaving only a handful vulnerable to the birds’ attacks.

Their only hope stood in such a precarious position; the rough patch of land seemed like their only chance for a safe crash-landing. However, the likelihood of the plane being destroyed upon impact was very high.

Jason’s face blanched as he turned towards the cabin window. Astonishment and disbelief suddenly washed over him as passenger after passenger leaned forward and pointed out the shattered remains of the ill-fated aircraft. He was shocked to be faced with such a stark reality, never having expected to come across the aircraft’s wreckage as they soared through the sky.The birds were startled, scattered and flew away as the cops clambered towards the aircraft. However, upon arrival it soon became very apparent that the plane had been completely destroyed and the cops were thus unable to access the luggage inside, making their task incredibly difficult.

The Coast Guard was well aware that the birds would return if they ceased operations now, prompting them to begin their first endeavor of towing the airplane out of the water. This was a daring mission that could potentially determine the success of their rescue mission. Despite the possible risks, the courageous crew plowed forward, determined to free the plane from its aquatic prison.As soon as they left the city, Jason noticed that the last section of the airstrip was starting to deteriorate. The birds seemed to be emerging from the thick forest that surrounded the area, flying in and out with increasing speed. Things seemed to be getting worse and worse the further they traveled, raising the question of the safety of their journey.

Even some curious birds were brave enough to venture into the aircraft, but the majority of them were hostile when they noticed the baggage room entrance. What could possibly be inside? Was there something more going on?

The birds were on edge as they began to fly nearby, it was obvious their purpose was to keep the coast guard away from the aircraft. Their vigilance was remarkable, showing no signs of hesitation as they spread their wings and fluttered in between the coast guard and the plane.The only hope of receiving assistance was by surviving the perilous journey ahead. Jason knew he had to exert every possible effort to avoid crashing the aircraft. However, the situation became even more challenging as they approached the countryside.

Jason directed the police to interrogate the passengers about the mysterious luggage when it came under question. He believed that the passengers were the key to solving the puzzle, as only they held pertinent information. The police began to question them accordingly, all the while keeping their eyes peeled, in hopes of unearthing the answers they were searching for. They soon discovered just how important the testimonies of the passengers were regarding the case at hand, and the answers were slowly unraveling.Luckily, they were able to enter the premises swiftly, enabling the tugboats to approach as the birds were unable to reach the captain. Jason fortunately devised a plan.

He had been reduced to nothing but his fingerprints. It was their only means for identification, so the police entered them into the database. Finally, the search was rewarded with a hit, providing the answer they had been searching for.Jason knew he had to reach out to flight control in order to figure out his options—which he felt were dwindling fast, for the birds were getting so close that it seemed like only a matter of time before they might actually hit the plane.

The diligent tugboats, with the assistance of the coast guard, attached their cables to the plane. They pulled the plane with great force and fortunately the task was straightforward. To everyone’s delight, the towing of the plane proceeded smoothly. Jason was immediately questioned by police as he was in command of the plane. He insisted that the flight was completely routine and he was not attempting to conceal any information. Jason convinced the authorities of his innocence with his honest and forthright demeanor. As the birds kept striking the structure, tiny fissures started to develop in the windows. The situation was getting more and more dangerous. They needed to get out of there.Jason’s heart sank as he observed the birds closing in on the engines, attacking the plane with increasing frequency. The situation had taken a turn for the worse, and Jason knew that any damage to the engines could have catastrophic consequences.

They gazed up at the sky and saw a flock of birds swirling around in circles above the plane. It was incredibly mesmerizing to watch their skillful aerobatics as it gradually disappeared from view, submerging into the depths of the blue waters below.Jason was gripping the steering wheel tight as the plane started to tremble, feeling as though he was trying to cling on to any semblance of control. Surrounded by terrified passengers, the plane began to lose altitude causing them to panic, screaming and wailing in fear.

Despite the plane slowly sinking, they understood that they had enough time to carefully salvage everyone from the plane. This was a crucial moment and they used every second to their advantage because they had no time to waste. Every single person needed to be removed safely from the plane.The worst-case scenario many of the passengers had imagined became an unfortunate reality – they could see flames roaring from the engine, right outside their window. As the plane continued its journey, the flames were an unmistakable sign that all was not right on board. Fear and panic were palpable and the passengers sat in shock waiting for what was going to happen…

The detectives dug into his past, which uncovered many questions. It soon became clear that his passport was counterfeit, bringing into question his legitimacy. This didn’t bode well for him and raised even more questions about his past.

The research team carefully took out the suitcases from the airplane, and when Jason came closer and looked inside, his face drained of color. He was met with a sight that shook him to the core, causing a wave of apprehension to ripple through his body. His initial disbelief was quickly replaced by a deep, unsettling dread when the contents of the luggage became apparent to him.As Jason was intensely devoted to the task of landing the plane, he heard an almighty bang – and he instinctively knew that it meant the plane wasn’t going to the much-anticipated strip. Of course, with so many birds flying around it didn’t come as a great surprise to Jason, he was aware of the risks that this presented. Indeed, if any of the birds were to be sucked in to the engines, it would’ve been disastrous.

Without a second thought, Jason immediately spun the plane around and maneuvered as quickly as possible without putting anyone in danger. He handled the situation with the utmost caution and care. In no time, he was able to invert the aircraft, ensuring that all the passengers aboard were safe and sound.Jason was desperate for a solution and thought long and hard. He was determined to come up with something and his last attempt was his only option. He took a deep breath, as this was his final attempt, and took a leap of faith. He hoped his idea would be successful, as it was his only hope of resolving this issue.Despite Jimmy’s state of near-unconsciousness, Jason’s aid enabled them to board the aircraft. Meanwhile, the cabin crew was finding it difficult to manage the situation.

The stakes were high – Jason had to keep the plane in the air and also prevent it from rising too rapidly as every increase in altitude held the potential to put the safety of the passengers in jeopardy. He had to perform a delicate balancing act, managing to both intimidate the birds and ensure the security of those aboard the plane.A special research team was sent to the scene to perform an exhaustive search. However, as soon as they arrived, they heard a plethora of strange noises coming from the aircraft. Fearful of the unknown, they took precautionary steps and prepared to investigate cautiously.

The birds were aware that the ships had departed, and the noise had become more distant. In a hurry, they immediately flew to the wreckage of the plane. With eagerness, they hoped to find what they were looking for.Jason tried to shoo the birds away, being extra careful as hitting just one of the engines could put them in danger. His heart raced as he maneuvered around the birds, procuring peace on the plane and ensuring their safe flight. He knew it was a matter of life and death – any bird hitting the plane had the potential to bring the whole plane tumbling down.

Jason’s head whipped around abruptly after he was jolted by the loud bang that had come from outside. Suspicious, he tried to make sense of the unexpected sound given that their plane had only recently taken off.He was perplexed as to why these birds were acting so erratically. When the coast guard tried to make contact, the birds became even more frenzied and unruly. He couldn’t fathom what had caused them to become this way, but it didn’t seem to be calming down.

The people who had noticed the suspicious passenger immediately called the police and reported their concerns. They noted that the name written on his suitcase matched the name on the false passport he had presented at check-in, thus further arousing their suspicions. Seeking to detain the individual, the police were quickly notified and requested to respond to the situation.Jason realized that the situation was dire when he mustered the bravery to explain to the passengers that there was no reason to worry. He simply didn’t know what was causing the birds to behave so oddly, or how he could make them stop. Despite his uncertainty, he maintained an air of confidence, working hard to ensure everyone was safe and secure.

Jason’s heart was thudding hard in his chest as he stood in intense concentration. All sound faded away into the background as he plotted his next move; there was no turning back now. His strategy began to unfold in front of him like an imperceptible mist, and soon he found himself determinedly pursuing it, his mind clear and focused.

The passengers were screaming out of fear, and Jason, for a moment, was frozen in his seat. Some of the passengers had their eyes closed, while others were feverishly looking out the windows. Every individual aboard was fraught with fear – it was an atmosphere of palpable fright. Jason had a close call as he managed to glide the plane onto the water’s surface. It was anything but a smooth landing, yet it spared Jason and the aircraft from what could have been a catastrophic ending. But despite the rough touchdown, it was enough to keep the plane in one piece. They heard some strange and bewildering noises coming from the baggage compartment. Something eerie and unsettling was stirring around in the dark crevices of the cargo hold. An unfamiliar and threatening presence lurked in the shadows, giving off a strange and mysterious feeling. The unknown sounds created a feeling of anxiety and fear in the two of them which increased with every second that passed.Passengers on the plane were overwhelmed by the spectacle reflecting in their window. Thousands of birds had clouded the view, plunging them into total darkness and creating a tense atmosphere. What should have been a calm flight became a creepy experience, with all eyes glued to the illuminated windows, trying to catch a glimpse of the outside world. There was no escape from the overwhelming sensation and the passengers were enveloped in a supernatural presence.

Although the plane’s passengers were shaken by the unexpected police presence, they responded quickly to the questions they were asked. Everyone had to list the items they were carrying, along with the contents of their suitcases.Apart from one individual, who had been specifically identified by the police, everyone else was allowed to carry on with their day as normal. This person, however, was made to stand out from the rest, with their activities and movements closely monitored by the police. The individual was subject to a thorough investigation, ensuring that their actions were above suspicion.

During his schooling, he had come across the notion that airports deter birds by blasting loud, intimidating noises. So, he offered the coast guard a suggestion to try this same method as a way of ridding their immediate sky of pesky birds. He figured that maybe the boisterous noise would be enough to put the winged threat to flight and leave them in peace.The loud explosive noises caused a disruption in the birds, immediately causing them to take flight and leave the area, securing their safety from the discordant symphony of the sound by retreating back into the depths of the forest.

Jason could not believe his eyes – the Coast Guard was being extremely stubborn. Despite the warnings he had just issued, the brave sailors sailed closer and closer to the plane.Jason was the last one to take the plunge and right as he did, help was on the way. As everyone scrambled, the coast guard was already arriving in the nick of time.

As the coast guard pulled up on the scene, they ensured a safe exit for all people out of the treacherous water. With additional boats on the way, everyone was able to be saved from potential peril.As soon as the birds caught sight of the plane, they instinctively swarmed toward it. Jason watched with a growing sense of unease, feeling as though the situation could easily escalate into a dangerous scenario. He couldn’t help but think that the odds were not in their favor, and the risk of something going wrong felt increasingly imminent. With each passing moment, the birds seemed to grow more aggressive in their pursuit of the aircraft, intensifying Jason’s apprehension.

The birds didn’t leave the plane alone, and the passengers were getting rowdy. In fact, they thought the birds would cause them to crash. Jason reassured everyone that he had things under control, but he secretly called for assistance! Got a bit of wanderlust deep in your soul? HorizonTimes is the answer. Our team of experienced wanderers offers you fun, yet practical, travel tips and advice about exciting destinations, foods to try, squeezing in a bit of fitness, and everything in-between. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to book your next trip and load up on all on the information you’ll need from before your feet even touch the tarmac. What would you do if you heard banging on the airplane’s windows? You’d be a bit alarmed and surprised, especially when you don’t know what’s going on. This happened to a pilot named Jason, and he frantically looked around. However, his co-pilot gasped, and there came a warning from the cabin crew. Overall, Jason was baffled because of the large swarm of birds chasing and attacking their airplane. They wouldn’t stop coming for them, but why? If they didn’t figure things out, there could be a horrible disaster. What did the airplane pilot and co-pilot do? Did they survive?Jason was trying to shake off the birds, but he had to be careful. If they hit the engines, it could cause the airplane to crash. These birds seemed to be more aggressive as Jason kept maneuvering away from them, and he didn’t know why! They would be there to deal with anything that came up when the plane arrived. It offered Jason some hope. But things were about to get a whole lot worse. Jason tried to get the plane higher into the sky to get rid of the birds, but his attempts were futile. If he climbed too quickly, he would endanger all their lives, and there were so many birds he could barely see in front of him.He knew it was only a matter of time before the passengers’ suspicions were confirmed. If a bird got sucked into the turbines, they would be in grave danger.

But that wasn’t what made the situation critical. The birds were getting closer to the engines. One bird could cause enough damage to bring the plane down, but many of them… Not only did those birds pose a threat with their proximity to the engines, but the other birds saw it as an attack. They became even more aggressive and started causing damage to the plane. Jason knew what would happen if just one of those birds got sucked into the engine. And he knew he had to get away from the birds before that could happen.And to make matters worse, the passengers were starting to act out. They feared the plane would crash because of the birds and wanted a way out. He tried his best to calm them down, but nothing worked.

The cabin had grown dark with the number of birds surrounding the plane. No one could see what was happening outside their window, which created a very creepy vibe.

He told Jason that they were being redirected to one of the smaller airports in the area. The airport was closer to where they were, so it would be better for them to make an emergency landing there.The passengers were screaming as their panic shot through the roof, and that was when Jason heard it. “Fire!” He knew that could only mean one thing—engine failure.

One of the birds must’ve been sucked into the turbine, and because of that, Jason no longer had any means of keeping the plane in the sky. They couldn’t make it to the airport and had only one option left.They had just lifted off and were still in the process of climbing when the birds attacked. It was something Jason could use to his advantage. Birds couldn’t fly as high as a plane.

The passengers were growing more scared with each minute that passed. It was so bad that some of the younger passengers even started crying. Jason had to do something, and he had to do it fast.With that thought in mind, Jason steered the plane toward the countryside. At least that way, he wouldn’t endanger more lives. But that wouldn’t solve their problem. They had to return to the airport right away.

In all his years as a pilot, Jason hadn’t seen anything like it. There were loud bangs against the plane’s windows, and he had no idea what was going on. Until he saw them…Jason kept in contact with the cabin crew, and they informed him that they were still trying to calm down the passengers. It was a mess back there, and there was only so much they could do. Jason knew there was only one option left. They would have to call the flight control center and request help. He asked his co-pilot to do that while he tried to put some distance between them and the birds. Jason didn’t know what to do anymore. But Jimmy, his co-pilot, got a bit of good news. The flight control center had finally answered their distress calls.The FAA’s Web site on wildlife mitigation cites several factors as to why birds and other animals have become a growing problem for the airline industry. Birds can disable planes, Ostrom said, by flying into the engines and shutting them down. They can also penetrate the windshield or other parts of the fuselage, causing pilots to lose control. The Bird Strike Committee’s Web site reports that about 90 percent of all birds involved in airplane collisions in the United States are species that are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Some airports have chosen to make modifications to surrounding habitat to discourage birds from nesting. Others have taken to using dogs and other measures to scare the birds away and some have resorted to “lethal control,” or killing nuisance birds, he said.

Birds aren’t the only animals that cause damage to planes. The Bird Strike Committee reported more than 760 collisions with deer and more than 250 with coyotes between 1990 and 2007.Jet travel has become less noisy and done away with the slower piston-powered planes and there are many more planes in the air between private, commercial and military aircraft. Many modern airports, the Web site noted, are surrounded by natural habitats that draw in birds and, as a result, most bird strikes occur near the airports.

Maloney said his firm was contacted by the city last year about working on a panel to resolve these issues, but the notion petered out and nothing was ever organized.On Nov. 10, a pilot of a Ryanair flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Rome after multiple bird strikes killed both engines. Three passengers and two crew members were injured.

Some airports have chosen to make modifications to surrounding habitat to discourage birds from nesting. Others have taken to using dogs and other measures to scare the birds away and some have resorted to \”lethal control,\” or killing nuisance birds, he said.\”There have been instances where birds the size of robins bring a plane down, all the way up to Canada geese,\” Ostrom said, adding that a bird simply smacking into the side of a plane will not cause it to crash. \”You’re not going to move the airplane like you’re moving a car or moving a bike,\” he said. \”When you’re moving something at 100 mph, it’s pretty much straight on.\” LaGuardia, he said, was built on swampland and the main runway is just hundreds of yards away from Riker’s Island, which with its grassy areas, trees and water access is prime nesting ground for birds.Birds usually don’t fly any higher than 5,000 feetr, he said, and the policy to stay under 250 knots, or about 290 mph, under 10,000 feet also helps minimize damage from the larger birds.Andrew Maloney, an attorney and partner with Kreindler & Kreindler LLP in Manhattan, said the US Airways crash will very likely have a major impact on ongoing discussions about the bird problem at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, where the plane took off today.

It usually doesn’t even register as turbulence, said John Ostrom, who chairs the Bird Strike Committee USA, formed in 1991 to analyze bird strike data and advise the aviation industry.

“You’re not going to move the airplane like you’re moving a car or moving a bike,” he said. “When you’re moving something at 100 mph, it’s pretty much straight on.”Maloney, whose firm specializes in aviation issues, said city and Port Authority officials want to clear the area surrounding LaGuardia Airport of birds, but environmentalists don’t want the birds, mostly seagulls and Canada geese, disturbed from their nesting grounds.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates bird strikes cost US aviation 400 million dollars annually and have resulted in over 200 worldwide deaths since 1988. In the United Kingdom, the Central Science Laboratory estimates that worldwide, birdstrikes cost airlines around US$1.2 billion annually. This includes repair cost and lost revenue while the damaged aircraft is out of service. There were 4,300 bird strikes listed by the United States Air Force and 5,900 by US civil aircraft in 2003. Based on US NTSB recommendation following the 2009 US Airways Flight 1549, the EASA in 2017, followed a year after by the FAA, proposed that engines should sustain a bird strike not only on takeoff and climb where turbofans are turning at their fastest, but also in descent when they turn more slowly; new regulations could apply for the Boeing NMA engines. Jet engine ingestion is extremely serious due to the rotation speed of the engine fan and engine design. As the bird strikes a fan blade, that blade can be displaced into another blade and so forth, causing a cascading failure. Jet engines are particularly vulnerable during the takeoff phase when the engine is turning at a very high speed and the plane is at a low altitude where birds are more commonly found.In 2012, operators at Gloucestershire Airport in the United Kingdom revealed that songs by the American-Swiss singer Tina Turner were more effective than animal noises for scaring birds from its runways.

There are only two chemical bird repellents registered for use in the United States. They are methyl anthranilate and anthraquinone. Methyl anthranilate is a primary repellent that produces an immediate unpleasant sensation that is reflexive and does not have to be learned. As such it is most effective for transient populations of birds (DeVault et al. 2013). Methyl anthranilate has been used with great success at rapidly dispersing birds from flight lines at Homestead Air Reserve Station (Engeman et al. 2002). Anthraquinone is a secondary repellent that has a laxative effect that is not instantaneous. Because of this it is most effective on resident populations of wildlife that will have time to learn an aversive response (Izhaki 2002, DeVault et al. 2013).The premise of effigies, pyrotechnics, and propane exploders is that there be a perceived immediate danger to the species to be dispersed. Initially, the sight of an unnaturally positioned effigy or the sound of pyrotechnics or exploders is enough to elicit a danger response from wildlife. As wildlife become habituated to non-lethal methods the culling of small numbers of wildlife in the presence of conspecifics can restore the danger response (Baxter and Allan 2008, Cook et al. 2008, Commander, Naval Installations Command 2010, DeVault et al. 2013).The Canada goose has been ranked as the third most hazardous wildlife species to aircraft (behind deer and vultures), with approximately 240 goose-aircraft collisions in the United States each year. 80% of all bird strikes go unreported.Most bird strikes involve large birds with big populations, particularly geese and gulls in the United States. In parts of the US, Canada geese and migratory snow geese populations have risen significantly while feral Canada geese and greylag geese have increased in parts of Europe, increasing the risk of these large birds to aircraft. In other parts of the world, large birds of prey such as Gyps vultures and Milvus kites are often involved. In the US, reported strikes are mainly from waterfowl (30%), gulls (22%), raptors (20%), and pigeons and doves (7%). The Smithsonian Institution’s Feather Identification Laboratory has identified turkey vultures as the most damaging birds, followed by Canada geese and white pelicans, all of which are very large birds. In terms of frequency, the laboratory most commonly finds mourning doves and horned larks involved in the strike.Lasers have been used with success to disperse several species of birds. However, lasers are species-specific as certain species will only react to certain wavelengths. Lasers become more effective as ambient light levels decrease, thereby limiting effectiveness during daylight hours. Some species show a very short time to habituatio
n (Airport Cooperative Research Program, 2011). The risks of lasers to aircrews must be evaluated when determining whether or not to deploy lasers on airfields. Southampton Airport utilizes a laser device which disables the laser past a certain elevation, eliminating the risk of the beam being shone directly at aircraft and air traffic control tower (Southampton Airport 2014).