Wildlife Hazard and Airports, an Emprical Analysis of Birdstrikes at Benazir International Airport, Islamabad, Pakistan
Wildlife Hazard and Airports, an Emprical Analysis of Birdstrikes at Benazir International Airport, Islamabad, Pakistan
Sameera Arshad1*, Arshad Mahmood Malik2 and Iftikhar Hussain3
ABSTRACT
Pakistan is a signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Like many other countries, bird strike risk to aviation is increasing at most of the airports in the country. Analysis of bird strike data of Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad 2005-12 collected from Civil Aviation Authority Pakistan; revealed that annual average number of bird strikes were 26.62±2.11. Birds of prey mainly, Pariah Kites (Milvas migrans) were reported to be involved in 72% of the strikes. Seasonal variation in bird strikes revealed that most of the bird strikes occurred during the period (July-October), then in (March-June) and least during the winter period (November-February).Relationship between meteorological and bird strike data suggested that there was a significant positive correlation between bird strikes and maximum temperature (r=0.452, p=0.000), minimum temperature (r=0.422, p=0.000), and rainfall (r = 0.242, p = 0.017).Information drawn by this study could be incorporated into bird control practices at the airfield. Management efforts could be intensified during periods of high bird activity.
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