RAWALPINDI: As many as 69 planes of Pakistan International Airlines had been affected by bird strikes during 2020 and 2021, and seven of them were damaged causing huge financial losses to the airline.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said the bird strikes usually damaged the multi million dollars engine, besides aircraft is grounded for repair or inspection which also disturbs the flight schedule.

He said the airports’ managements are responsible for bird control as they should use repelling machines, flash lights and all other modern tactics which are used in the modern world.

He said in addition, the authorities concerned should also keep a check on garbage dumps and mushrooming of residential societies developing nearby the funnel areas of the airports.

In 2020, as many as 62 aircrafts were affected due to bird strikes as 19 incidents were reported at Lahore, 19 at Islamabad International Airport, 11 at Jinnah International Airport Karachi, two each at Dubai, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan and an unknown place.

One each incident was reported at Faisalabad International Airport, Sukkur, Sialkot, Skardu, Kuala Lumpur and Gilgit.

Of the 62 incidents of bird strike, six aircraft were damaged while 56 planes reported no damage during 2020.

The 62 aircraft affected due to bird strikes including 40 Airbus A320, eight B777-200ER, five B777-200LR, four B777-300ER, three ATR42 and two ATR 72 aircraft.

The incidents happened while take-off roll, take off/climb, approaching the airports, landing, landing roll and at ground. Majority of the incident of bird strike incidents happened while landing.

During Jan 1to March 2021, seven aircraft were affected due to bird strikes and only one plane was damaged.

In 2020, the Nur Khan base authority had sought help of police and district administration regarding strictly implementing section 144 around the airbase to restrict kite flying and pigeon flying around the base area.

The authorities believed that these threats posed a potential hazard to the aircraft safety and may result in serious consequences especially to the aircraft, engine / propellers.

The authorities had asked the district administration that extensive flying operations which include operational flying, relief flights for Covid-19 along with VVIP flying commitments are being taken at the base, it becomes inevitable that these hazards would cause damage to the multi-million-dollar machines which not only cause loss to national assets but also effects other important operational activities during war situation.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2021