RAWALPINDI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched a campaign to educate the public about hazards of birds in the vicinity of airports.

The purpose of the campaign is to educate the citizens about the risks associated with bird activity near airports due to poor trash disposal, especially on the eve of Eidul Azha.

The CAA has also been considering the possibility of installing acoustic bird repellent system at major airports.

A CAA spokesman said in a press release that a team visited the of fice of deputy commissioner Attock and met representatives of Pakistan Air Force (PAF)Kamra Base.

A response team was formed with Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) students to curb bird activity near aircraft. Pamphlets were distributed among the citizens and residents of nearby villages and travellers. The team members requested the residents to dispose of animal waste properly during Eid.

In collaboration with the Flying Club, pamphlets on air cleanliness would be also distributed during Eid, said the spokesman.

Teams visited nearby mosques and homes to highlight the importance of keeping the area clean and the airspace safe.

`It is hoped that the efforts of Islamabad International Airport (IIA) management would be effective in keeping areas around the airport clean and safe for air travel.

As part of the efforts to control bird numbers in areas near Gilgit Airport, an exhibition of pamphlets inscribed with bird hazards was held in Gilgit.

Public awareness drive was also held in local mosques by the airport manager in Gilgit. Flowers were distributed among residents in local markets and these activities would continue till Eid.

An awareness campaign about bird hazards was also launched around the Faisalabad airport.

A total of 662 bird-related incidents were reported from 2018 to May 31, 2022. Of the 662 aircraf t, substantial damage was caused to six, minor damage to 94 aircraf t while no damage was done to 562 aircraft, according to the CAA.

In 2018, 116 such incidents were reported, 165 in 2019, 141 in 2020, 142 in 2021 and 48 till May 31, 2022.

Meanwhile, a disfigured taxiway, leading to the aircraft parking Bay 21 at the IIA, needs a meagre Rs5 million for repair and make it rut-free, according to the CAA.

The taxiway is currently out of service for having longitudinaldepressiononits surfacecausedbytheheavyloadsof aircraf t in hot temperatures.

The spokesman said: `The pavement Mike Taxiway leading to the Bay No 21 is in need of repair and maintenance and would cost around Rs5 million and that includes the rut itself.

He said the airport was a massive infrastructure that needed regular surveys of dif ferent kinds. One such survey, he said, had been conducted for the airside improvement at a cost of Rs170 million.

This survey is a part of the future procurement planning proposals that requires detailed studies and due diligence before its finalisation.