Each year, across the Irish skies, airplanes encounter wildlife. These incidents, occurring approximately 1,500 times annually, are not without consequences. Imagine delayed flights, frustrated passengers, and, most critically, damage to aircraft engines or structures. Around 8% of these collisions are severe enough to disrupt air traffic and necessitate costly repairs.

A decade ago, serious wildlife-related incidents were both frequent and critical. However, thanks to effective prevention measures, the occurrence of such incidents has been reduced by two-thirds on average. Additionally, despite the large size of modern jet engines, the number of damaged engines has been cut in half. One key factor behind this success is the strategic selection of grass mixtures for airport landscapes.

For over 30 years, DLF has been at the forefront of developing, producing, and supplying specialized grass seeds. Our research focuses on continuously improving grass varieties to lower water consumption, reduce mowing waste by 40%, and slow growth rates—all while requiring minimal maintenance. With ClearSky®, we bring our expertise to airport management. This innovative solution helps mitigate bird strike risks while reducing the maintenance costs of grassy areas. Thanks to ClearSky®, the skies are safer, and airport operations are more efficient.

ClearSky® mixtures are made up of species and varieties originally selected for landscapes, specifically chosen to address the challenges faced at airports:

• Sustainability: Designed to thrive with limited water and mineral nutrition.
• Reduced maintenance: Less frequent mowing and minimal mowing waste. Slow-growing grass varieties produce up to 40% less green matter, reducing mowing waste.
• Carbon footprint reduction: Achieved through root-level carbon sequestration.
  A patented study by an independent laboratory shows that ClearSky® turf can sequester up to 10 tons of CO2 per hectare per year.

A true "carbon sink" right in your grass areas.