Aviation experts sensitise Wakiso residents on bird strikes, waste management

WAKISO - The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) staff have held a sensitisation workshop for communities of Buwaya and the surrounding areas in Wakiso district on safeguarding against activities that threaten aviation safety.

The engagements, held on Thursday at St. Luke's Church, Ssazi, were part of the UCAA efforts to minimise bird strikes, which are estimated to cost the global aviation industry up to $2b every year.

Eng. Ayub Sooma, the director for airports and aviation security, urged residents against poor farming methods and garbage disposal within 13km of the airport environment, as one way to avoid bird strikes. 

"Entebbe is a bird sanctuary, which is good for tourism, but also presents challenges for the aviation industry.

Wildlife management is key to our safety, and therefore, the airport safety should be enhanced with communities being involved to guard against bird strikes," Sooma stated, in a speech that was delivered by Kenneth Otim, the UCCA principal public relations officer. 

Entebbe International Airport is located within Entebbe peninsula with abundant bird species that affect flight operations. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)

He added, "When you keep the compound clean and manage your waste properly, you are not just cleaning your home, but also protecting the aeroplanes in the sky."

According to Eng. Sooma, there is an ongoing ecological study around Entebbe airport, aimed at understanding the habitats, species and human activities that attract birds within a 13-kilometer radius of the runway. 

"We're also collaborating with the National Animal Genetics Resource Centre (NAGRC) to use DNA analysis to identify bird species involved in strikes, especially when they're hit by aircraft beyond recognition, as well as new bird species. This will allow us to tailor the mitigation efforts even more precisely," Sooma revealed.

Gloria Bitebekezi, the UCAA principal wildlife management, said other measures to control bird strikes include:

▪️frequent runway sweeps

▪️use of laser beam bird repellents

▪️bird distress calls

▪️data management 

▪️ecological studies.

Eng Ayub Sooma, the director for airports and aviation security. (Courtesy Photo)

UCCA has also invested in a dedicated Bird Hazard and Wildlife control section, currently employing 23 professionals. The professionals include environmental scientists, biologists, and wildlife experts.

At the sensitisation meeting in Ssazi, local leaders pledged to propagate the message to a wider population staying within a radius of 13km from Entebbe airport. 
Stakeholders at the engagement included: fishermen, residents, area local leaders, and health and sanitation inspectors.

The UCAA management held similar trainings with communities in Kigungu, Nakiwogo, among other areas within Entebbe municipality, for a sensitisation campaign on the proper management and disposal of garbage in order to regulate the flocks of birds around the airport. 

Aviation authority engaging the Wakiso area leaders on proper waste management and control of bird strikes. (Credit: Julius Luwemba)

How bird strikes affect aviation

Bird hazard management is one of the most unique and overlooked aspects of aviation safety. 

According to Vianney Luggya, the UCAA public affairs manager, a single bird strike can bring down an entire aircraft. 

"If a bird enters a jet engine, it can cause catastrophic failure, potentially costing lives and millions in damage," he warned.

The challenge of bird-strike is more pronounced at Entebbe airport, which lies within a known bird sanctuary. 

The Entebbe peninsula sits on the migratory path of birds moving in and out of the northern and southern hemispheres. It is also surrounded by several bird-rich islands and wetlands.