Tweed-New Haven Airport: Going to the Birds?

Birds and Airplanes. A match not made in Heaven!

When it comes to air superiority, the birds have it over humans. The birds were there first, and as such, have first rights over the sky. But alas, outside of a formal peace summit between humans and birds, we humans will be sharing the sky with the birds for the foreseeable future.

In this article I will address the following:

1. A central tenet to the argument by some against Tweed-New Haven Airport is that it lies in the migratory path of a particular species of birds. In this regard, these airport foes argue that Tweed is a threat to the well-being of the birds and therefore the environment. They "solidify" their argument with mention of an Avelo Airlines 737 that hit a bird back in November of 2021.

2. The FAA maintains a database of bird and other wildlife strikes at specific airports. With this handy resource, you can see the best effort at catching actual data (FACTS) pertaining to this aviation hazard. Then, with this information in hand, you can make direct comparison to any other data sources that quantify other kinds of human machinery versus wildlife. From this, you can draw your own set of conclusions. You might then relate your conclusions to point 1 above and its validity or lack thereof.

3. Finally, you can take the words of one professional pilot as to the possible severity of bird strikes to airplanes. I will briefly touch on issues and pilot perspective with regard to bird strikes and airplanes. While I am no expert, I have experiential perspective on the impact (sorry for the pun!) birds have to airplanes. Hopefully this description will give you clarity as to what a bird strike means from a safety standpoint, whether you're a passenger or resident living near an airport.

Credible sources. I'm not a Scientist. But I do know how to make comparisons!

In relation to migratory bird flight paths, I did a very casual search on such paths across the country. My focus was on credible groups with expertise in wildlife. As such, my references to the flight paths of birds are to Audubon Society and Sierra Club resources. After careful review of the (attached) data, something is very clear. Birds are everywhere!

If we are to validate the argument that migratory bird paths are reason to shutter one airport, then we ought to shutter many more. Opposition forces to Tweed-New Haven Airport insinuate in their argument that Tweed-New Haven is somehow unique in its location to transitory bird paths. It isn't. If we are to use this assertion, the only airport that should remain open would be Atlanta-Hartfield Jackson International Airport as it is the only airport that doesn't seem to be directly under one of the documented paths. Casual examination of the data resources provided shows essentially that every major airline hub lies underneath the flight paths of birds. Are we expecting to dig up runways across the country? Go ahead, find LAX, DFW, ORD, JFK and dig ‘em up!

The assertion made by airport opponents is well intended, but unfortunately not the entire story nor is it a credible argument against having an airport here in New Haven/East Haven. While I did not provide you the entire story either, I shared with you a broader perspective on the matter. Where Tweed lies in relation to migratory bird patterns is not unique and therefore, not cause to dig up its runways any time soon. But there's more!

Lions, Tigers and Bears oh my!!!

The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) maintains a database on wildlife encounters with aircraft. This resource is very handy indeed in this discussion. A simple search (YTD, 6 months) shows a total of 35 encounters between birds (and other wildlife) and airplanes for the entire state of Connecticut! If you're interested in the full picture of human machines versus wildlife, then one need not just talk about airports/airplanes versus birds, but other things like "eco-friendly" Solar Farms, Wind Turbines and Cats. Yes. I said cats. Look at the numbers and make a comparison.

Click here! Click here!

In making the comparison of various manmade effects to wildlife I am not attempting to minimize loss of animal life. I am attempting only to make comparison so as to ask real questions of the 10,000 Hawks. Do we change our approach to alternative energy (communication too) now that we know more birds (and other wildlife) are killed each year by those mechanisms than airplanes? Are the arguments of aircraft bird strikes valid reason to curtail use of Tweed or close it entirely as some in this group suggests? If we are to suggest Tweed Airport is a major culprit in the killing of birds, we have other projects ahead as well. Namely, cats.

And lest you missed the very stunning tidbit above…Cats kill BILLIONS of birds per year. How many birds do airplanes kill by comparison? I think the argument of migratory fly-ways has gone to sleep like a good little 🐈‍⬛ kitty! Cats kill Billions of birds per year. Wow!

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a minor problem.

Seeing that aircraft by comparison to other man made (and even eco-friendly) creations kill far less birds, it only follows that statistically speaking, aircraft bird strikes around Tweed are hardly an exceptional or unique safety concern. To reiterate, Cats kill more birds than airplanes do!!! Who is up for getting Tom? I know Jerry is for sure.

Should the issue of aircraft Birdstrikes be brushed aside? Of course not! Aircraft Birdstrikes are a very real and important issue to aviation and receive a great deal of attention. That said, aircraft Birdstrikes are not a reason to shut down airports and call it quits in the aeronautical world.

Final Approach.
After learning that Cats kill more birds than airplanes, I decided not to describe aircraft problems that result from Birdstrikes (Point 3 from the beginning of this article). In writing this article and learning of such shocking information (cats versus birds) my reason for writing became something different than when I started. My reason evolved from an intent to describe aircraft issues (in part) as they relate to Birdstrikes, to a way to shut down the cacophony of malarky spewed by a community group that isn’t interested in real dialogue outside of their own.

Migratory bird paths are essentially everywhere. Cats kill more birds than airplanes. I hope these are two reasons to keep Tweed thriving.

Surely, there can be issues resulting from aircraft Birdstrikes but I think they are best left for another discussion. As you know, I’d be happy to provide you perspective on such incidents, but maybe in the future. For now, I want you to go and gather your cat(s)…because the 10,000 Hawks are coming for them…or at least they should be!