Canine Air Traffic Controller Saves Lives

Monday, June 11, 2001 - USA

FORT MYERS, FL — We believe the transmission goes something like this:

Voice #1: Tower, this is Tango-Charlie-One-Niner left heading one five zero.

Voice #2: Woof.

Voice #1: Okay climb to one five thousand leaving one three thousand—

Voice #2: Grrr...

Voice #1: Uh, roger, Tower. Maintaining one three thousand!  Please advise...

What you have just read is a dramatic simulation of "Radar's" first day on the job at Southwest Florida International Airport.

Radar, a 2½-year-old Border Collie made an international debut Friday at her new post on the runways of the Fort Myers-based airport.  Although the little pooch is only 30 pounds, she's responsible for countless tons of aircraft taking off and landing on her watch every sunrise and sunset.

"I would say the Border Collie is the most effective tool we use," says airside operations manager Bobby Orick.

Mr. Orick is referring to the wildlife management program which made SWFIA the first commercial airport in the nation to use dogs to reduce the number of bird air strikes.

Before they called in the dogs, bird strikes averaged close to 20 collisions each year at SWFIA—at least once resulting in an emergency aircraft landing (with one fatality: a sandhill crane).  In 1999, a Border Collie named Jet became the first canine air traffic controller, and that bird strike statistic dropped to six.  (Remember Jet?  Read about her retirement in the January 2001 issue.)

Laying down on the job: Radar.

Photo: SWFIA

Most airports typically rely on pyrotechnics, noisemakers, purple fog and grass spray to discourage large birds from entering the flight paths.  Other facilities, such as the March Air Reserve Base in California, use falcons or other birds of prey to control birds on the premises, but SWFIA has found a kinder, gentler solution. Border Collies have the strong instinct to herd sheep and geese without harming them, which makes them ideal for protecting the wildlife as well as the airways.

Jet, the first dog, surpassed the airport's expectations and made the Border Collie world proud during her two years of service, but early this year she was diagnosed with a degenerative heart condition, and the doctor's orders were to lay off the airplanes for a while.

Radar, Jet's successor, graduated from the Flyaway Farm and Kennels in Reidsville, North Carolina, USA and began her training at the airport last May 21.

"She's great to work with.  She's an absolute pleasure," says one of Radar's seven human coworkers, Gil Forgays.

Now, how many people can say that about grass spray?

"...Oh yeah, the peanuts are great."
Last-minute advice from Jet (right).  Photo: SWFIA

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