The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced a collaborative effort with AirAsia Philippines to mitigate bird strikes, particularly focused on Tacloban, an important city in the central region of the country.
AirAsia officials shared this news on Thursday, September 11. According to their report to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), a significant number of birds were present near the Tacloban airport runway, prompting action to prevent wildlife-related incidents.
In response, CAAP committed to deploying a team of wildlife biologists and experts to collaborate with local authorities on this matter.
As highlighted by AirAsia Philippines President Suresh Bangah, “Wildlife hazard management isn’t something airlines can tackle alone: it demands a joint effort from the government, airport operators, and the aviation sector as a whole. We are honored to collaborate with CAAP, ACAP, airport partners, and other airlines to maintain safety in our skies for all.”
Understanding Bird Strikes
A bird strike occurs when an aircraft collides with a bird in flight, typically during takeoff or landing. The extent of the damage can vary and may lead to delays or alterations in flight schedules, impacting overall operations.
AirAsia Philippines reported more than 90 bird strike occurrences across various domestic airports between January and August of this year. Most of these incidents were classified as low-risk and were managed routinely by safety protocols. However, a few incidents did result in damage to aircraft.
AirAsia reassured that safety was never compromised during these incidents, noting only temporary inspections and repairs, along with brief delays. The airline actively partakes in the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) safety sub-committee, which focuses on data sharing and strategy alignment for national wildlife hazard management.
Additionally, alerts for crews were intensified at high-risk airports, with enhanced coordination between flight operations, engineering teams, and ground staff to ensure prompt inspections and immediate reporting.
