Short Final

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An air traffic controller at Toronto Buttonville repeatedly issued frustrated warnings to pilots about Canada geese creating a significant bird strike hazard over the active runway.
  • A pilot, approaching the runway, tried to lighten the mood by humorously asking if the geese could be given a transponder code.
  • The controller responded with an equally humorous and resigned retort, "They won't comply!" illustrating the ongoing challenge of wildlife in aviation.
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Last fall, while I was in the circuit to land at Toronto Buttonville (CYKZ) airport, I was listening to the tower controller who was giving a running commentary and warning to pilots on final to watch for Canada geese that were flying back and forth over the threshold of the active runway, creating a very nasty bird strike hazard. After the controller had made the warning for the fourth time in a very short period of time, she again repeated it to me as I was short final — in a very frustrated tone. I decided to try and lighten the frustration to her day.

Cessna Amphibian 1234:
“Can’t you just give those geese a transponder code?”

Buttonville Tower:
“They won’t comply!”


Paul Armstrong
via e-mail

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