The aircraft and its six-person crew landed without incident after the bird strike around 7 p.m. on the evening of April 26. However the plane did need to have a propeller replaced and it was not cleared to fly until all the checks and balances were carried out to ensure there was no other lingering damage from the incident.
Sara Keddy, Public Affairs spokesperson with 14 Wing Greenwood, said Monday morning, May 1, that the all-clear had been given for the plane to leave.
“They expect to have that plane back at the base by noon today,” she said. However as of 5 p.m. Monday the plane was still sitting on the runway at the Yarmouth airport. There had been activity during the day, but the plane had not left. There were technical difficulties still being worked on.
The Aurora CP-140 had been in the area doing regular training off of Yarmouth on April 26.
“They were doing an approach to the runway, not intending to touch down . . . just a low approach and then intending to lift off again,” she said. “They noticed some birds off on the airfield and they were going to abort, and they did, but they hit a bird anyway and it caused some damage.”
“They landed the plane, that was no problem,” she added.
She said the crew did find bird remains in and around Engine #1.
The crew contacted the base at 14 Wing Greenwood, which sent a mobile repair unit down the following day. The crew returned to Greenwood.
The plane stayed on the runway near the airport tower for the next few days, where it was kept secured and within sight of the staffed tower. The RCMP also did patrols but because the area was in lockdown it wasn't seen as a concern to have the plane there for the extended period.
“They weren’t going to move it until it was repaired and they were sure it could pass any particular tests and checks needs to pass,” Keddy said.
She noted the unavailability of the Aurora did not impact operations at 14 Wing Greenwood, saying they were able to juggle the planes they still had at 14 Wing for any needs that arose.
