Birds entering airspace compels CAA to take notice

Improper garbage disposal system major concern for flight officials.

The increasing number of birds attracted to the garbage near the Bacha Khan International Airport, has prompted the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to take notice of the matter.

The potential risk of the birds causing a catastrophic aviation accident was discussed at a meeting on Wednesday, according to a handout issued.

Around 77 birds hit national and international flights during 2011 around the airport, inflicting heavy damages on flight operations, albeit without any major incident.

The meeting was informed that the birds fly 3,000 feet in the air and remain perpetually in flight, searching for food in heaps of garbage around the terminal at University Town, Abdara, Bara Road, Pawakai, and Tehkal areas, occasionally colliding with the planes.



The CAA pointed out that garbage dumps in residential areas near the airport attract the birds as the trash remains unmanaged, without a proper disposal system.

Officials said that the presence of wedding halls in these areas has compounded problems for flight operations, as these halls throw food in uncovered spaces.

The aviation authorities appealed to the residents of these areas to throw the garbage in covered places to avoid any serious aviation accident.

Additionally, the CAA asked town authorities to take practical steps to improve waste management and ensure cleanliness, and to throw the garbage to a designated place for disposal.

It was also decided that CAA officials would personally visit areas that pose a significant threat to aircrafts, along with the town administrations officials to take definite steps for cleanliness.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2012.