Expert Wants FAAN To Control Bird Strike

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been urged to take urgent steps to minimize the effects of bird strike to aircraft.

An aviation expert, Group Captain John Obakpolor who made the call in an interview  with journalists, said that domestic airlines are losing hundreds of millions of naira to the menace.

Obakpolor expressed disappointment at the huge sums that some domestic airlines are losing to the effect of bird strikes at airports across the country, arguing that if something drastic is not done, the attack of birds could lead to air misharp.

He noted that it is a standard industry practice for FAAN to compensate  airlines for the loses they suffer on account of bird strike, just as it is the responsibility of the authority to put measures in place that will reduce the menace of birds at airports across the country.

Said he: “If you look at FAAN, I am always on my knees here praying to God that nothing happens because it is always  like a break, just like it can happen any day. We are not talking about bird strike”.

Meanwhile members  of the Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria (ACHAN) have embarked  on rebranding of their fleet of vehicles to meet  up with the demands of passengers security and comfort.

As a first step, the association has secured partnership with some banks and notable insurance firms to procure brand new cars, especially the Camry Model to replace  the old rickety vehicles used by some of its members at the airports across the country.

National President of the Association, Chief Ekwuemeku Alex Edom stated this at the end of  a meeting with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

The meeting was predicated on how the two bodies  could work together on ensuring safety of passengers, their baggage, getting rid of illegal car hire operators and the need to project the image of the country in positive light through provision of safe, secure and comfortable service to their customers.

Edom noted that the services his members were providing are an integral part of airport operations, adding that if a passenger disembarks from a flight, his or her journey is not complete until such a passenger gets to his final destination through a car hire in a safe and secure environment.

Shedie Okpara