Richard Collins: This idea with pigs might just fly near airports

20 pigs were placed on a two hectare plot, from which sugar beet had been harvested

Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam launched a pilot program to find out whether pigs might be able to help ward off birds on airport grounds. Courtesy Schiphol / Varkens

Dutch safety experts think pigs could have a role in air accident prevention. An unusual experiment is underway at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

Europe’s third-biggest travel hub is located on reclaimed land, with open water forest and farmland in the vicinity. The polder terrain attracts birds, large and small, offering safe roosting sites; predators can’t approach them without being spotted. Airport staff visit runways only occasionally and there are no dogs so, apart from the roar of jet engines, disturbance is minimal. No wonder hares love airports.