Worried by the threat posed to aircraft safety, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has commissioned birds and wildlife management equipment.
Speaking at the commissioning, the agency’s managing director and chief executive officer, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu said the equipment were meant to improve on safety of flight operations by effectively managing birds and wildlife hazards at the nation’s airports.
The managing director who was represented by the director of commercial and business development, Mr. Sadiku Rafindadi noted that the equipment are some of the best that could be found around adding that they were procured on the recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
He said the deployment of the equipment will usher in an era of safe flight operations as incidents relating to bird strikes will now be a thing of the past.
In his remarks, FAAN’s director of airport operations, Capt Muktar Muye expressed his delight at the arrival of the equipment.
He said the tools were not just the equipment but a complete package that also include the recommended storage facility, patrol vehicle and trained personnel in line with ICAO/ Standards and Recommended Practices.
Some of the equipment commissioned include three different models of bird scaring gas canons, day boxes for carrying pyrotechnics during operations for safety, 15,000 rounds of 12G (heavy caliber bird scaring pyrotechnics), hi-tech bird laser, personal protective equipment for staff dealing with wildlife, purpose built TYPE IV explosive storage magazine, brand new Hilux jeep for runway wildlife patrol, among others.
