Education & awareness top priorities for Bird Strike Committee

9th September, 2013

KINGSTON - Due to the high volume of poultry production in the periphery of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC), a public awareness campaign will have to be accelerated so as not to disrupt the economic activity.

This is the view of members of the Bird Strike Committee, including individuals fromthe Guyana Livestock Development Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency, Public Works Ministry, Guyana Amazon Tropical Bird Society, Bounty Farm Limited and Ministry of Health, at its meeting held on September 4 at the Public Works Ministry’s Boardroom.

Members agree that there is a dire need to educate farmers on proper practices in poultry production which can reduce the mortality rate. This action can reduce the disposal of carcasses. To this end, efforts are being undertaken to begin the process.

Bird strikes are a concern for the Ministry and CJIAC’s officials.

On April 26, 2011 Caribbean Airlines flight BW 662 was proceeding on a scheduled flight from CJIAC to Piarco International airport in Trinidad when it ingested a bird in its left engine. The incident occurred two minutes after takeoff at an altitude of 3,000 feet. The bird strike disabled the left engine of the aircraft which resulted in an emergency landing back at CJIAC.