The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a nation-wide campaign on "bird aircraft strike hazard" at the major airports, including the Benazir Bhutto, Allama Iqbal and Jinnah international airports. The key objective of the campaign on Wednesday was to create public awareness about the issue of bird strike and its implications on the aviation industry, ensuring safe flight operations at the airports.
Major stakeholders who can help prevent the bird activity around airports are residents living around the airports and commercial places. Media and local cable operators can also play a pivotal role by creating awareness. A bird strike defines as a collision between a bird and aircraft which is in flight or on takeoff or landing roll. The term is often expanded to cover the other wildlife strike, ie bats or ground animals. Bird strike is common and a significant threat to aircraft safety. "In Pakistan, bird strike is also a major issue that needs to be tackled at different levels for aircraft safety," said Fariha Tahir Shah, campaign owner and the Public Relations Joint Director at the Pakistan CAA. "The key message that we want each stakeholder, especially people residing or doing business, is to keep their area clean from garbage, refuse and waste around airport sites. We make a strong appeal for a clean environment around airports to help us, keep you and your family safe at all times."
The campaign was made up of awareness sessions, advertisements, billboards, print, radio and electronic media campaign. Steps taken for bird control at the airports include deployment of airside inspectors and bird scarer for scaring birds by means of air sprays on the airfield, use of cartridges, fire crackers and de-nesting. Along with that, inspectors take regular environmental visits to identify bird attractant sources around the airports within a 14-kilometre radius.
The acceptable level of safety, as recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, is one bird strike over 2,000 flights. The Pakistan CAA consistently runs aircraft safety campaign every year to ensure that the messages are reinforced and appropriate actions are taken by all relevant quarters to maintain and safeguard operations for smooth flow of air traffic.