Nelson Morales

CAAP says coordinating with airlines, airports to prevent bird strike

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Safety measures are in place in the Philippines to prevent bird strike incidents involving aircraft, said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Monday, in light of the deadly Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea.South Korean transport officials are looking at a bird strike as one of the possible reasons for the crash.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2024/12/29/179-dead-in-south-korea-s-worst-plane-crash-2259">179 dead in South Korea&#x27;s worst plane crash</a></div>In an interview with ABS-CBN News, CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said reports of bird strikes affecting flights during takeoff and landing are becoming more common even in the Philippines.“These accidents can cause important operational delays, expensive maintenance, and, in limited cases, even major safety concerns,” said Apolonio.He said CAAP is in constant coordination with airlines and airport to prevent accidents especially at the main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which is near a bird sanctuary.“In fact nagkaroon tayo ng birdstrike seminar two weeks ago kasama &#x27;yung ating mga airline partners at napag-aralan &#x27;yung tamang procedure na pwedeng gawin para maiwasan yung mga bird strikes, especially dyan sa NAIA Runway 0624, &#x27;yung galing dyan sa Manila Bay,” he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/30/no-filipinos-in-tragic-south-korea-plane-crash-ph-embassy-1706">No Filipinos in tragic South Korea plane crash: PH Embassy</a></div>“Kung mapapansin ninyo, sa gabi lang bumababa dyan kasi at least walang migratory bird pag gabi na eh,” he added.He said there are also advanced technologies such as radars that help airports identify birds in the area in real time.But a seasoned pilot and flying instructor hopes a bird-detection tool for pilots would also be developed.“We have the weather radar to help us navigate the weather conditions pero itong bird, there is nothing yet. Unless the airport authorities of that particular airport will give a notice,” said Capt. Jesus Faeldan of the Alpha Aviation Group, a flying school in Clark, Pampanga.He said it is also important to look at whether pilots have enough experience to deal with such emergency situations.Faeldan also believes it is plausible that a bird strike damaged the engine and electrical systems of the Jeju Air plane that figured in the crash, which in turn, delayed the deployment of the necessary landing gear.“Mayroong feature &#x27;yung eroplano which we call Landing Gravity Extension. You can manually deploy the landing gear and extend it by gravity. But for you to operate that, you’ll need time. From what I saw from the video, they do not have the luxury of time. So the pilot now is pressured,” he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/2024/12/30/korean-entertainment-activities-paused-after-jeju-air-plane-crash-1247">Korean entertainment activities paused after Jeju Air plane crash</a></div>As for aircraft safety, Apolonio said the CAAP is involved in inspecting every plane that local airlines acquire.“Kahit na ho ang aircraft ay may edad na as long as properly maintained at pumapasa sa checklist ng CAAP as regulator, wala tayong magiging issue,” he said.Despite the latest air disaster, both Faeldan and the CAAP said that air travel is still the safest mode of transportation.Citing global statistical data from 2022, CAAP said the odds of being involved in a plane crash are approximately 1 in 1.2 million.In comparison, the odds of dying in a car crash were about 1 in 107 based on 2019 figures.

Safety measures are in place in the Philippines to prevent bird strike incidents involving aircraft, said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Monday, in light of the deadly Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea.

Safety measures are in place in the Philippines to prevent bird strike incidents involving aircraft, said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Monday, in light of the deadly Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea.