Edmonton International Airport will soon become one of the first airports in the world to use robotic falcons and eagles to chase birds from flight paths and discourage nearby nesting.
"EIA is excited to trial this new technology," said Steve Rumley, the airport's vice-president of infrastructure.
The remote-controlled raptors flap in a similar fashion to real birds of prey, "triggering the instinct of birds, through the combination of silhouette and wing movement" and chasing them off, the company that makes the robots said on its website.
Netherlands-based Clear Flight Solutions said the flight behaviour of the birds is "so indistinguishable from its natural counterpart that other birds believe that their natural enemy is present in the area."
The airport said it will make sure the robo-birds are used safely. (Clear Flight Solutions)
The company said it uses the robots for a variety of purposes, but integrating them within daily operations at an airport is a first.
"This is truly a historic moment for our company but especially for the entire aviation industry," CEO Nico Nijenhuis said in a news release Tuesday.
Airport promises safety
"For years, there has been a lot of interest from airports. To now officially start integrating our operations at a major Canadian airport is absolutely fantastic."
The airport said it has always been an early adopter of new technologies and will make sure the robo-birds are used safely.
"We will ensure that all of the airports regulatory requirements are met as part of our safety management system ... to ensure that the testing is completed in a safe manner," Rumley said.
