Plane vs. deer collision could cost airport

West Wind Aviation is suing the Saskatoon Airport Authority for damage to one of its airplanes that collided with a deer while landing in Saskatoon.

The collision on Aug. 26, 2011, resulted in $174,000 in damage to the Beechcraft 1900C aircraft, West Wind says in its statement of claim, filed late last month in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench. The company says the airport authority was negligent by allowing deer to be on the premises.

Allegations in the statement of claim have not been proven in court.

The airport authority “failed to make the airport as safe as reasonable care and skill could make it,” the statement of claim says.

“West Wind states that the authority had knowledge that deer were present on the airport premises at various times prior to the accident,” the claim says.

Neither West Wind nor the Saskatoon Airport Authority responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

West Wind claims the airport authority failed to “implement or follow” policies regarding the risk of large animals at the airport and regarding warning pilots when deer are present.

According to Transport Canada, deer are the most commonly struck mammals at airports in North America. Transport Canada’s Wildlife Control Procedures Manual says that as of 2010, a total of 18 deer strikes had been reported in Canada and “damage is almost always substantial.”

West Wind Aviation operates charter flights as well as scheduled air shuttle flights between Saskatoon and Regina and to northern Saskatchewan and Nunavut.

It is claiming $174,375.94 for damages to the airplane, plus $11,141.84 for loss of income while the airplane was being repaired.

Source:   http://www.thestarphoenix.com