Going to the Birds, And How Not To

Here's a list of what to look for and what questions to ask when shopping around for a hangar.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 10:48 AM ET

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Hangars can have hidden pitfalls that might not become evident for months or even years. Here, a strip of aluminum surrounds the tailwheel to help prevent rodents from entering the airframe. [Courtesy: Jason McDowell]

Key Takeaways:

An aircraft owner's frustrating experience with birds nesting in his engine highlighted the unexpected downsides and time costs of a poorly chosen hangar.
The incident led the author to realize that selecting a hangar requires careful "detective work" and that a higher-quality hangar is often worth the extra investment.
Key considerations for hangar selection include effective pest control, protection from water and snow, reliable door operation during power outages, and adequate cell service.
The author advises future renters to thoroughly investigate potential hangars and speak with existing tenants before committing to a location.

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It’s not every day I long to take multiple lives with my bare hands. Or fantasize about setting up lethal booby traps that employ electrical current to deliver swift death to my enemies.

But the other day, when I opened up my engine cowl during a preflight inspection and discovered several pounds of grass, twigs, and debris packed tightly into every nook and cranny of my engine compartment, the local starling population was fortunate they were out of my reach.