Bird Netting

by Alex A. Kecskes

These days, airlines have enough to concern themselves with: escalating building maintenance costs, bad weather, rising utilities expenses, tight budgets. But there is one problem they don't need right now.

Problem:
Pest birds. Our fine-feathered friends can quickly become a major problem in airline hangars. Without effective pest bird barriers to exclude them, hangar operators spend millions of dollars annually in maintenance and cleanup costs. The problem is, birds like to settle in and build their nests in all those lofty areas inside a hangar. Those high beams, ducts, crevices, nooks and crannies are kept nice and warm by aircraft engines being tested and other equipment. It doesn't take long for pest birds to gather in numbers and create all sorts of headaches for airline hanger operators.

One big headache is bird droppings. These can damage many areas of an aircraft, including exposed engines and assemblies—electrical and mechanical. The acidic chemicals in droppings can eat into metal, plastic and rubber surfaces, causing significant damage that may cause engines and hydraulic systems to fail--even in flight.

Not as alarming, but also expensive is the damage pest birds can cause to the hanger. For example, bird droppings and nesting materials can clog gutters and down pipes. They can also block grilles, ducts and vents, and they can damage expensive HVAC systems. Left to gather, bird droppings can also block skylights and freeze up security camera mechanisms. And, since most airline hangers have smooth concrete floors, bird droppings can create dangerous slip-and-fall hazards that result in serious injury to workers and visitors—either way, you're looking at costly medical bills and possible litigation. The right kind of bird control can reduce or prevent these problems.

Remember, once pest birds invade a hangar to nest and roost, it takes a lot to get them to finally leave. Which is why keeping them out in the first place is so important. Fortunately, there are effective and humane bird barrier products you can install to keep pest birds out of airline hangars.

Solution:
No Knot Bird Netting. The idea here is to exclude pest birds from the hangar areas they like most--all those high places that are warm and safe and cozy for nest building.  The best way to do that is with No Knot Bird Netting. Made of flame resistant polypropylene, this heavy-duty professional grade netting is chemically inert and highly resistant to a wide range of chemicals and temperatures. It will not rot, absorb water, or mildew. And it's ISO 1806 Protocol Mesh Tested and U.V. stabilized to last.  If you've been troubled with pigeons, sparrows, starlings, crows and gulls, this is the bird netting to block them out. It comes in various stock sizes and custom cuts--including 2- and 3/4-inch mesh. It's also very light, easy to handle and simple to install. You can even get this netting in several different colors--including white, stone and black to blend in better with your hanger.

If your hangar tends to draw bats, you might consider getting some Bat Netting. This heavy-duty netting is ideal for keeping these pests out of secluded or semi-secluded areas. The best bat netting is U.V. protected with a 3/8-inch mesh. It comes in different sizes--typically 10’x10’, 25’x25’, 50’x50’, and 50'x100'. One manufacturer even offers a 10-year guarantee.

Installing bird netting is simple and straightforward. The objective is to properly seal off any openings around the edges, nooks and crannies. Birds are smart and will eventually discover a way around the net if you give them the slightest opening.
 
Remember, the best bird prevention strategy is to plan ahead. That means installing bird netting in areas you anticipate birds might nest and roost. If you do this before birds invade your airline hanger, it will be bird free and your maintenance costs will surely go down.