What is the meaning of “animal danger”?

“Animal danger” is defined as the collision of animals with civil aviation aircraft. Many of us think of airport areas as barren, concrete fields where nothing grows. The presence of birds and other animals can be surprising, but not that much. There are a number of very attractive factors for wildlife such as water, plants that can serve as breeding grounds, nesting or shelter, and wooded or cultivated areas.

In recent years, we have noticed an increase in the number of collisions explained by the increase in air traffic, the urbanization of territories which leads animals to seek calmer and wooded areas, and technological innovations highlighting motors increasingly quiet and more precise analysis of the types of collisions that actually occur on the ground.

In order to assess this animal risk on aerodromes, several international recommendations and several European and French regulatory texts have been brought into this consideration. To respond to the observations of this study, the Animal Danger Protection Service (SPPA) was created and helps prevent the risk of collisions in airport areas. It has been financed through an airport tax since December 1998.

Having become an essential link in the aviation security line, this service aims to identify animal species that could be problematic for aviation safety on aerodromes and their surroundings.