Animals on the airport runway? Understand the risks and necessary preventive measures

In recent days, a plane had to take off at a Brazilian airport due to the presence of a crab on the runway. The fact seems unusual, but finding animals in the surroundings of an airfield is much more common than people imagine and demands a rigorous work of fauna management for the safety of operations and also for environmental preservation. 

At BH Airport, fauna control is carried out by a specialized team, in which biologists and veterinarians combine different methodologies to offer safe operations together with the protection of local fauna. In 2022, professionals captured and relocated 343 wild animals to safe areas. In January and February of this year, there were 33, which directly reflects on the reduction of accident risks and the preservation of species.

“At BH Airport, safety is the main rule of the game and this attention to animals is directly reflected in the landing and takeoff operations of aircraft. Around here, fauna is constantly monitored, with periodic inspections being carried out so that the airport is always operational and the surrounding fauna is protected”, emphasizes Gustavo Anfra, Airport Development manager.

On a daily basis, the concessionaire’s fauna management area contributes to scaring away and/or capturing species, directing the animals to preserved and safe areas, far from the airport. In this process, this team has the support of falconry, a methodology that uses birds of prey for hunting in cooperation with people.

“To ensure the success of the activities, the bird is considered first and its well-being must be ensured at all times. The birds used by falconry always come from breeding sites registered with the competent environmental agency, have an invoice and identification rings of origin”, explains Gustavo Anfra.

In addition to the birds, BH Airport also has a dog trained to chase away species during patrols. The animal is trained to help identify nests, eggs and birds at the airport site. It is worth mentioning that the dog comes from a registered breeder, is properly vaccinated and receives adequate veterinary care for its well-being.