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FAAN, Airlines set to fight Bird Strike

June 6, 2010

 

Disturbed by the incessant cases of bird strikes at the nation's airports, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will this month meet with all concerned stakeholders in the Aviation Industry to proffer a lasting solution to the menace.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun, disclosed in Lagos on Sunday that the stakeholders' workshop, being planned by the Authority's Directorate of Environmental Services, was part of its scope of providing safe and efficient Airport Operating environment in order to attain the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority's and the International Civil Aviation Organisation's aerodrome certification of airports.

Though Mr. Aisuebeogun said the date for the workshop would, in due course, be made public, he stressed that the workshop will bring together all airlines representatives, officials of FAAN and the industry regulator to discuss and come up with the best strategy of tackling the issue of bird's strike which has become a source of concern to the sector in recent times. He added, "The fight against bird strike supposes to be a collective one by all stakeholders in the aviation industry. Most of the airlines, both domestic and international, which are pointing accusing fingers at FAAN, have not really been supportive. They do deny FAAN the revenue which it could have even used on developmental works, like fighting the menace of bird's strike.

The FAAN boss explained that the outcome of the planned workshop would complement the ongoing efforts by the Authority to check the hazard of bird strike and ensure safety and security at the 22 airports managed by it. He further hinted that besides the ongoing bird hazard control programme of the Ornithology Unit of the Directorate of Environmental Services at the nation's international airports, the Margaret Ekpo Airport, Calabar would soon begin a pilot project on the "Phoenix bird deterrent Systems," which is automated equipment, devised to produce different cries of sound to scare birds. The equipment is often positioned along the taxiways and runways, and will be purchased for four airports after a successful pilot test at the Calabar airport.

For the four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, Mr. Aisuebeogun said FAAN was also considering Merlin Aircraft Bird Strike Avoidance Radar System, which is one of the current state-of-the-art devices in real-time detection, tracking and warning of hazardous bird activity at airfields and airports. The advantage of the system, he explained, is that it can detect and track small birds between two to three miles and large birds and flocks up to eight miles away, depending on the power system selected. He added, "The technology works with a Long range Acoustic Device for deterring birds from getting close to the approach and departure corridors. Another advantage of this equipment is that it utilises Geographic Information System Technology for analysis and correlation of bird habitat, breeding characteristics, migration and key environmental and man-made geospatial data for avian species."

The FAAN boss also disclosed that the Authority has launched a massive war against filth around the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The exercise, which he said, was ongoing, had led to the clearing of all overgrown bushes, cutting of all trees around the airport, cleaning of all car parks, cleaning of the staff quarters and the opening up of all drainages at the D-Zone of the staff quarters, among others.

Mr. Aisuebeogun, who warned the people against any form of illegal trade, including farming and dumping of hazardous matters at the airport and its environs, enjoined all stakeholders and the communities around the airport to join FAAN in its war against filth.

 

Akin Olukunle,
General Manager, Public Affairs.