Eight regional airports and two small airports stated that they
did not have a draft or approved AWMP in place. However,
depending upon the level of risk at each airport, this may not be
needed if a risk assessment has determined that low risk conditions
exist (based on the criteria of Canadian Aviation Regulations Section
Sec 302.302(1)). It is not known whether the ten airports had
carried out the appropriate assessment.
One national airport respondent described the airport environment
as ‘‘An island within an urban landscape. The area
provides habitat, food and water and is virtually predator free.’’
Mitigating the hazard caused by attractants most often involves
manipulating the habitat and restricting access to the attractant,
but can also mean changing land use patterns, activities and
practices. Mitigating attractants and management of animals on
airports is an ongoing activity. As one respondent replied ‘‘Wildlife
management itself is an oxymoron. The exercise is one of due
diligence and resource allocation. Expectations must also be
managed, particularly those of the regulator and user. The risks can
only be dealt with, not eliminated’’.