Manama, An international expert in wildlife hazard management in aviation emphasised the importance of applying adequate measures to avoid catastrophic incidents.
In his remarks to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Jeff Follett, Chief Executive Officer of Avisure, highlighted the role of effective wildlife management in aviation to maintain safe operations and avoid engine damage.
Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), in partnership with Avisure, an aviation risk consultancy, conducted a Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA). This assessment aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Bahrain International Airport’s (BIA) wildlife hazard management programme and define ways to enhance safety standards and safeguard airport operations.
Aircraft collisions with birds or other animals represent a significant risk to aircraft safety and operational efficiency due to their potential to cause aircraft damage, flight delays, as well as safety hazards for passengers and crew.
This ongoing assessment programme consists of three thorough e
valuations, the first of which was conducted in July 2023, the second in January 2024, and the most recent in July 2024. It includes wildlife surveys, a comprehensive review of wildlife management practices and associated documentation, and an audit aligned with regulations set forth by the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 14 requirements, ICAO Doc 9137 Airport Services Manual Part 3 – Wildlife Hazard Management standards, and ICAO Doc 9981 Procedures for Air Navigation Services Aerodromes standards.
“In aviation, wildlife strikes refer to any animals that come into conflict with aircraft. This includes domestic animals like dogs and cats, pigeons, and wild animals such as flamingos and giraffes. This can include any animal crossing an aircraft’s path,” Follett said.
Follet explained that adequate wildlife hazard management could prevent catastrophic incidents. He mentioned the example of the Hudson River bird strike incident in 2009 when a floc
k of geese were struck by an aircraft shortly after taking off.
The incident gained widespread attention because of the successful ditching of the aircraft and the subsequent rescue of all 155 people on board.
The event became widely known as the “Miracle on the Hudson and was later depicted in the 2016 film Sully, starring Tom Hanks as pilot Captain Chesley Sullenberger.
“If you think of safety, there could be a catastrophic incident, which we try to avoid, such as the plane incident in the Hudson River. In addition, It can be something as simple as the reputation of the airport, the airline, or the confidence of people in flying by watching a social media post of an engine on fire after ingesting a bird,” Follett added.
“This also includes tangible things such as the cost of civil aviation, which is about $ 50,000 per incident. There are also four to five major incidents that include damaged aircraft, which can be quite extensive,” Follett noted.
Based on Bahrain’s wildlife strike history, Follett high
lighted that predominantly gulls, doves, and pigeons, were involved in collisions with aircraft.
“We visited three different sites, one of them had over a thousand pigeons, and the other two had about 200 and 500. Those birds can cross the airport, which can be a matter of concern,” Follett said.
The CEO noted the importance of increasing community awareness of wildlife strikes to maintain a clear zone around and within the airport to maintain the safety of aircraft and animals.
On his part, Ali AlAseeri, the Manager of Aerodrome Safety at BAC, underscored the company’s continuous efforts to develop and implement the wildlife hazard management programme, in accordance with national civil aviation laws and international regulations.
AlAseeri emphasised BAC’s continuous efforts in advancing the programme to mitigate wildlife strikes and hazards at the airport. This includes conducting inspection campaigns within and around the airport throughout the year to assess the local wildlife and reduce the risk of w
ildlife strikes.
The wildlife hazard management programme at BIA was established in 2018 by the Airside Operations and Aerodrome Safety departments. The programme includes reporting wildlife collisions, conducting focused inspections and monitoring on the airside, implementing bird dispersal techniques to mitigate risks to aircraft operations, and enhancing the awareness and proficiency of airside personnel for the effective execution of the programme.
Source: Bahrain News Agency