Bird Strike: A challenge for airports
Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (B.A.S.H) also known as Bird strike is basically an aviation term defined as a collision that usually occurs between a bird and an aircraft which is in flight or on a takeoff or landing.
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Bird strike is one phenomenon that has been with aviation for many years. Indeed, one of the first recorded incidents of bird strike collision happened to the pilot Carl Rogers in 1912.
According to the Safety Manager of GACL, Mr Benjamin Ahlijah, bird hazard is a serious issue and it’s the reason why various studies have been conducted to find out which types of birds operate within the vicinity, what brings them around and why they are attracted to the airport, adding that “we are not just looking at the airport, we are looking at things that happen outside the airport.” he said.
What attracts birds to airports?
Airports provide a wide variety of natural and human made habitats that offer food, water and cover. One of the first steps in reducing bird hazards is to recognize those attractants. Usually, several attractants acting in combination are responsible for the presence of birds and their behavior at an airport.
Birds will usually congregate a place for the following reasons and more:
Food: Birds require relatively large amounts of food. Most airports support an abundance and variety of foods such as seeds, grass, insects, and earthworms. Seeds are sought by resident birds such as vultures, crows and bats.
Water: Birds of all types are drawn to open water for drinking, bathing, feeding, loafing, roosting and protection. Rainy periods provide temporary water pools at many airports. Many airports have permanent bodies of water near or between runways for landscaping, flood control or waste water purposes. Those permanent sources of water provide a variety of bird foods, including small fish.
Cover: Birds need cover for resting, roosting and nesting. Trees, bushy areas, weed patches, shrubs and airport structures often provide suitable habitats to meet these requirements. Almost any area that is free from human disturbance may provide a suitable roosting site for one or more species of birds.
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Species
According to the Biodiversity Conservation and Research Manager –Ghana Wildlife Society, Dr Augustus Asamoah, “results of an extensive research conducted within the KIA environment revealed the presence of 100 bird species within the airport enclave.
Statistics
Since the year 2000, at least 486 planes have collided with birds according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Of these incidents, 166 led to emergency landings and 66 resulted in aborted take-offs.
The Manager, Aerodrome Safety and Standards, GCAA Mrs Anita Agyei Nmashie, explained that ”anytime the powerful suction power of the aircraft sucks a bird into the engine, what happens is that the titanium- made propeller and engine blades are destroyed and that affects the controls of the aircraft leading to an incident or accident.”
No two airports are exactly alike. Accordingly, bird hazards vary from airport to airport even when the same species are involved.
The occurrence of birds at airports varies according to habitat availability, weather, season of year and time of day of which Kotoka International Airport is no exception. Between 2011 and 2014, KIA experienced a total of 42 cases of bird strikes. 13, 6, 5, 18 cases were recorded in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Prevention and Control
In order to ensure a successful Bird Hazard Management at KIA, a wildlife hazard committee has been established in line with international best practice to implement an
Integrated wildlife Management System aimed at eliminating bird strike occurrences.
GACL has also purchased and installed a number of bird dispersal equipment to drive birds away from the airport.
It is important that waste and refuse disposal within a 13km radius of the Airport be properly handled in a collaborative way. Several habitat management practices that make the airport less attractive to birds are being practiced.
These include ensuring that rain water is effectively swept or mopped off the runway and aprons, removing or pruning trees, taking care of foreign objects and debris (FOD’s) such as plastic soft drink bottles and managing grass height.
As a strategy, the Ghana Airports Company Ltd will continue to work with all stakeholders including agencies such as Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Town and Country Planning to ensure that human centered activities that serve as attractants to birds and other wildlife are reduced to the barest minimum.