Hercules and Ned

The next time you board an aeroplane, you might like to remember that you may be placing your life in the paws of a dog.

Yes, we all know about the obvious humans, the air traffic controllers, the ground crew, the engineers, the pilot and the cabin crew. What you might not be aware of are the animals that ensure your safety, because without their contribution, taking off and, in particular, landing would be even more dangerous. As it is impossible to prove a negative, we will never know how many accidents have been prevented by these dogs, who keep our airports safe. As anyone who knows anything about aviation knows, one of the most dangerous parts of flying is the danger of a bird strike. The horrendous consequences of this problem were brought to the world’s attention with the now-famous incident that occurred on the 15th January 2009, when US Airways flight 1549 out of LaGuardia airport was hit by a flock of Canada Geese. With both engines disabled, the pilot, Captain Chesley Sullenberger, managed to do what nobody had ever done before, successfully land an Airbus A320 aircraft on water and having landed on the Hudson River, 155 passengers and crew all survived the experience. The incident is portrayed in the movie “Sully” starring Tom Hanks and directed by Clint Eastwood.

In 2023, in the USA alone, there were 20,000 collisions between planes and livestock, yes, incredibly, that’s twenty thousand!! Again, in the USA between 1988 and 2023, there were 76 people killed and 126 aircraft destroyed by animals and birds. If that happens in just one country, then consider the number of incidents that will occur worldwide in any one year. Even if a plane lands successfully, the damage can be expensive and time-consuming to fix, and scaring birds away from airport runways can be critical to a safe landing.

Meet Hercules and Ned

An example of the work of these unknown and generally ignored lifesavers can be found at West Virginia International Yeager Airport, where Hercules and Ned ply their trade and make a significant contribution to the safety of anyone who flies. The Chief Wildlife Controller is Hercules, a 9-year-old border collie who, in the first 18 months of his life, learned to herd geese and sheep. This rather unconventional start to his working life is the result of a rather unusual organisation called Flyaway Geese, which provides specialist advice and positive solutions to just about any business, from golf courses to international airports, regarding migratory birds. Alongside advice, the company provides highly trained border collies to translate it into something practical. When Hercules is not ensuring that our feathered friends do not present a threat to aviation, he can be found in the airport receiving approbation from prospective travellers and trying to ensure that the nervous ones are as relaxed as he can make them.

Over the years, Hercules has become something of a personality in his own right with TikTok and Instagram accounts, and he is in great demand for meeting and educating groups of children. Although still fit and active, Hercules has been provided with back-up in the shape of 3-year-old Ned, who, I guess, can be described as The Deputy Wildlife Controller. In his younger years, Ned was trained to herd geese and goats and has learned more by following Hercules. With Hercules heading for retirement, the major responsibility for keeping passengers safe will transfer to Ned. The difference between the two is noticeable when off duty. Hercules is calm, chilled out, waiting to go to work. Ned, on the other hand, is always on the move and is rarely to be found without his blue rubber ball, which he offers to anyone willing to play fetch. Bearing in mind that the job requires our heroic hounds to move extremely rapidly, when temperatures are high, they are fitted with cooling water vests and as tarmac can cause burns to their paws, they are provided with specialist booties to ensure that, regardless of the heat, they remain in the best of health.

Protective gear and safety

As an additional protection, they are sometimes fitted with goggles (sometimes known as doggles) to protect their eyes, particularly when the aeroplanes take off.  When this occurs, they are trained to instantly drop down and lie still so as not to disturb any birds still about, ensuring that they stay on the ground. The danger will be to the dog’s eyes, as any loose debris, i.e., sand, grit, or even loose grass cuttings, can cause permanent damage.

So next time you fly, perhaps say a silent thank you to the unseen and unheralded canines that contribute to your safety.

The Sully cocktail

For those of you who collect miscellaneous information, there are reports that a cocktail has been created to honour Captain Sullenberger. Now we need to be honest here, this particular cocktail does not require a great deal of imagination when the time comes to mix the ingredients. It comprises two shots of Grey Goose vodka plus a splash of water!! Naturally, it’s called a “Sully.”

Mine’s a large one.