In lin.e with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Wildlife Hazard Control, management of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Friday commissioned equipment to tackle the menace of bird strikes at Nigerian airports.
Commissioning the equipment at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku said the equipment would also help to improve safety in the aviation industry.
Kuku, who was represented by the Director of Airport Operations, FAAN, Capt. Abdulllahi Mohmood, pointed out that having seen how dangerous bird strikes pose to safety over the years, the airport Authority decided to enhance its equipment to fight the threat to air safety.
“Today we have received the equipment from ICAO and we are going to commission it and after commissioning distribute it to the various Airports across the country where it will be properly utilised in mitigating wildlife hazards that are facing us daily ,” Kuku said.
Speaking further, the FAAN boss said,” Most of you are fully aware of recent happenings,where we had so much incidences of bird strikes but fortunately at least it did not lead to any accident unlike other places even if it is not an accident, sometimes you realise that aircraft engines suffer serious damage causing airline to face serious challenges such as flight disruption ranging from flight delays to cancellations.”
Kuku who did not disclose the amount spent on acquisition of the equipment, however said that millions of Naira was expended .
She however thanked the airline operators for their patience and cooperation despite the challenges they face with birdstrikes without resulting to legal action.
In her vote of thanks, the General Manager Environmental Services, Mrs. Nanlo Christopher, thanked the Managing Director of FAAN, Director of Airport Operations and the management team for ensuring that the equipment arrived safely.
She also thanked them for their support, cooperation and commitment to see that incidents of birdstrikes are reduced to the bearest minimum..
She said that the issue of birdstrikes cannot be over emphasised, adding that airline operators have been bashing the agency as a result of the incidents of birdstrikes.
