Mon, Sep 15, 2003
Aviation Authorities In Upper Midwest Worried About Plane-Deer
Collisions
When you're driving
down a dark road and are suddenly confronted by a deer, frozen in
your headlights, chances are you'll survive but the deer won't.
Those chances are very different in an airplane.
For the first time in decades, a deer and an airplane collided
at the Muskegon County Airport (MI). The Muskegon
Chronicle reports there were no serious injuries -- apart from
those suffered by the deer. It may not be a frequent occurrence,
but it was enough to convince federal officials that the airport
needs a fence to keep out plane-pounding critters. The FAA has
ordered Muskegon County to install a ten foot high fence around the
perimeter of the airport by the end of 2004. That could cost as
much as $600,000.
County Administrator James Borushko isn't too pleased with the
mandate. "We recognize there's a concern, we want to address it and
we will," Borushko said. "But a 10-foot fence is pretty ugly. Is
this an airport or Alcatraz?"
Last month's collision involved said deer and a Skyways Airlines
flight with two crew and ten passengers on board. While the
aircraft wasn't moving very fast, the smack-down with Bambi caused
extensive damage. Now, maintenance crews have to overhaul one of
its turboprop engines and the enginemount.
"Anytime you have an accident like that, you have to tear down
the engine and rebuild it, just as a precaution," said Asst.
Airport Director Marty Piette, who doesn't think the airport
experienced a deer-related incident since the mid-1980s.
So who pays for the fence? Piette says the FAA could purchase
the barrier by using "discretionary funding," but probably won't.
Looks like this one will be on the local taxpayers' tab.
"We're not questioning the need for safety," Borushko said. "The
question is whether 10 feet is the appropriate height. We need
input from the DNR. Will 8 feet do the job and save the taxpayer
money?"
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