Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Hay River (Aug 20/01) - Arctic airports have some unique problems when it comes to keeping busy runways clear of snow in the winter, but there is a year-round problem that requires constant attention from maintenance crews.

Keeping birds off the runways is a situation that Transport Canada takes very seriously.

Ken Comeau -- who retires this week after 35 years at the Hay River airport -- said the birds can do a lot of damage to the aircraft if left unchecked.

"Years ago, when we had a 737 approaching, we had one seagull fly in across its path and it was ingested into the engine and it caused about $50,000 damage," Comeau said. "They can cause a lot of damage and jeopardize the passengers on that aircraft, so it's a priority at airports to have bird scare operations."

The runway birds are a year-round problem, but they are especially drawn to the open fields in the warm sun, because that's where the food is.

"The main hazard this time of year seems to be seagulls," he said. "They come and feed off the grasshoppers."

"They seem to be very dull-witted birds, because they are very slow moving -- they don't see aircraft approaching,"

Each time an aircraft strikes a bird a report must be made of the incident detailing the aircraft, type of bird and time the incident took place. This information is compiled in a national data base to better understand bird patterns and behaviours.

Comeau says some of the larger southern airports employ full-time hawkers or falconers to use trained birds of prey to keep other birds at bay.

"That's way beyond our budget," he laughs.

Summer student Rory Hinton is tasked with scaring the birds off the landing strip, using a pistol or shotgun loaded with noisemakers and pyrotechnics called "bangers" and "screamers".

Hinton's day begins with a bang at 7 a.m. and continues shooing the birds until the last scheduled flight has landed.

Snow buntings are a nuisance in the winter and this summer a flock of cranes has been hanging around the edge of the tarmac, Hinton said.

"There was also hawk over there today and it's one of the biggest birds I've ever seen," Hinton said, adding that the bigger birds don't usually pose the biggest threat.

"They tend to stay off the runway -- it's the seagulls that come and land on the surface of the runway and that's where the main hazard is."

"Ravens are pretty intelligent birds and I've never heard of a bird strike with a raven," Comeau said. Migratory birds like ducks and geese in the spring and fall are always looking for a wet place to land, so the maintenance crew make sure all the water is drained from the tarmac and surrounding airfield. As well, Comeau said the grass is kept short, to discourage nesting in the field.

All NWT airports run programs to scare birds and control other mammals as part of airport training provided by Transport Canada.