On Thursday morning at 10am, a collision occurred between a bird and a plane at Findel. Although the situation was not dangerous, birds can represent a very real danger to aircraft. Their number has increased this summer, causing the Air Navigation Administration (ANA) and the environmental group Natur an Ëmwelt to work together in order to control the situation.
The green spaces surrounding Findel airport are not looked after and contain a large mouse population. Compared to previous years, predators lacking food are more attracted to these small creatures.
Luxembourg airport comprises 358 hectares of green space, most of which are meadows mowed on a regular basis. These green spaces contain a number of plants and animals in danger of extinction.
One of these is the kestrel. These birds of prey fly over the area searching for food, with the younger birds in particular danger of collisions as they tend to focus on foraging rather than staying alert.
Several methods are employed to keep birds of prey away from Findel flight paths. One of these is a special megaphone which can mimic the cry of ten different bird species; the other is the laser, although this is less effective in good weather.
In recent years, some 50-60 bird strikes have been recorded in Findel, without any aircraft or passengers suffering injury. In the Luxembourg region, birds of prey tend to be on the smaller side, which weakens any impact. During the migratory season for larger birds, such as geese or cranes, pilots receive a special warning.
