RAWALPINDI: Pilots have been advised to be extra careful while landing and taking off keeping in view incidents of birds-hitting planes.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) issued a notice in this regard on Saturday.

According to the notice, in view of the monsoon season, heavy bird activity around the airfield (below 3,000 feet) was observed. Pilots, however, have been advised to exercise extreme care. The notice will be valid till Sept 13, 2022.

Two flights, one of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the other one of a private airliner, were kept on hold on Sunday at Allama Iqbal International Airport due to the presence of birds in the airfield.

Aviation Minister Saad Rafique took notice of this and called an emergency meeting on Sunday. The federal minister directed the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to control the movement of birds.

He said the safety of passengers and aircraft cannot be compromised under any circumstances and safety of human life is supreme, adding during the monsoon season, special chemicals should be used to prevent earthworms appearing near airports and the latest technology for protection from birds would be introduced at Pakistan’s airports.

The aviation minister also said that solid waste management should take immediate steps to dispose of garbage in settlements around Lahore and Karachi airports. In addition to this, for public awareness, electronic, print and social media campaigns should also be launched immediately.

Airline management should also be contacted to reschedule flight operations, he said. The meeting was attended by director general of CAA, district administration officials, chief executive officer of Lahore Cantonment Board, solid waste management administration, director general (pest warning), civil aviation and PIA representatives.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2022