...the accident dubbed "Miracle on the Hudson" and subject of the recent film "Sully".
Aggregate Industries' plans for Straitgate Farm would see quarrying directly below - just 195m below - Exeter Airport’s landing approach. Invariably there would be bodies of water. Ponding and wet grasslands would be left in perpetuity. Water attracts birds. Birds and planes don’t mix. Canada geese are one of the most dangerous species for aircraft:
The dangers are so great that some US airports have adopted a "zero tolerance policy" for geese. It's easy to see why:
The CAA's "Safeguarding of Aerodromes Advice Note 3 Wildlife Hazards around Aerodromes" warns that geese are drawn to water and wetlands.
Blackhill Quarry is a good example. Operated by AI, Blackhill is several miles down the road from Straitgate, but still within Exeter Airport's 13km safeguarding zone. For the bodies of water that would be created by any quarrying at Straitgate, AI has a plan. Who would be responsible for implementing it?
Aggregate Industries will be responsible for the implementation of all safeguarding within the site boundaries, monitoring bird numbers and activities and ensuring Exeter Airport is informed if any significant changes to ground and habitat occur and reviewing the performance of the plan.
And when AI is not on site? Outside any campaign periods? After any quarrying has finished? For evermore? Who knows.
If there's any plan for AI's Blackhill Quarry, it's clearly not working. Here are some photos of the 300 or so Canada geese who are currently making Blackhill their home.
