Aircraft safety: Campaign against bird strike hazard launched

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) on Wednesday launched a countrywide awareness campaign against bird aircraft strike hazard at major airports of the country, including the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad.

The key objective of the campaign is to create awareness about the issue of bird strikes on aircraft and its implications for the aviation industry, and ensuring safe flight operations at airports, said a press release by PCAA.

Major stakeholders who can help prevent bird activity around airports are members of the general public, especially those living around airports. Media can also play a pivotal role by creating awareness on the hazards of bird activity.

A bird strike is defined as a collision between a bird and an aircraft in flight or on takeoff or landing roll.

“Key message that we want each stakeholder especially people residing or doing business to take away from this campaign is to keep their area clean from garbage, refuse and waste around airport sites,” Fariha Tahir, a PCAA official, said.

There have been calls from the aviation industry experts for launching a public awareness  campaign on the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2015.