Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has called upon the residents of Buwaya to join in efforts of ensuring a clean environment around Entebbe international airport to avoid bird strikes on aircrafts .
“When you keep your compound clean and manage your waste, you aren’t just cleaning your home—you are protecting a plane in the sky,Alhajj Eng. Sooma Ayub ,said in a speech delivered for him by the Principal Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Kenneth Otim ,during during a wildlife management community sensitization held in Buwaya town council , in Mpigi district .
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) is implementing a comprehensive wildlife hazard mitigation program to address the critical threat of bird ingestion into aircraft engines at Entebbe International Airport.
Mr. Otim while delivering speech
This strategy aims to align community land-use practices within a 13km radius of the airport with international aviation safety standards to reduce catastrophic mechanical failure risks.
UCAA is implementing a technical approach that involves habitat modification, exclusionary tactics, and a data-driven ecological research is being deployed to minimize hazardous attractants.
In order to involve the general public in all these mitigation measurers ,UCAA has conducted a series of Wildlife Management sensitization workshops the latest one being held for the communities of Buwaya in Mpigi district to guard against activities that threaten aviation safety.
The Authority has played a crucial role in wildlife management at Entebbe International Airport, focusing on mitigating bird strikes and other wildlife hazards to ensure aviation safety.
Eng. Sooma Ayub urged residents to guard against poor garbage disposal and farming methods within 13km of the airport environment to avoid bird strikes that may cause damage to aircraft engines and a financial loss to both the airline and airport management.
Sooma explained that UCAA fronts the safety of passengers and equipment and therefore emphasize safe passenger facilitations and travels through Entebbe International Airport.
“Wildlife management is key to our safety and therefore our airport safety should be enhanced with communities being involved to guard against bird strikes” he said.
The UCAA Principal Wildlife Management Ms Gloria K Bitebekezi ,urged the communities to adopt a four-way approach to wildlife management that includes, the community approach, habitant management, grass cutting and controlled dumping of garbage within the flight path.
Bitebekezi said that the airport wildlife management team has made progress in controlling bird strikes by use of frequent runway sweeps, use of laser beam bird repellants, bird distress calls, data management & use of reports and ecological studies.
UCAA has employed Nature Uganda to carry out an ecological study of the bird species around the airport, wildlife attractions and modern innovative methods to guard against bird strikes. The study has focused on the emerging unknown bird species, land use & development and climate change.
The area local council leaders pledged to continue with the community monitoring, sensitizations, and improvement in the community hygiene.
The workshop was attended by the fishermen, residents, area local leaders, health, and sanitation inspectors from Buwaya Town Council (BTC), UCAA Air Traffic Control and Public Affairs departments.
