Bird/Wildlife Strike Control for Safer Air Transportation in Nigeria

Abstract

Bird strike has become a major threat to air safety globally. Over the years, collision between birds/wildlife and aircrafts has resulted in the death of hundreds of people and is responsible for annual losses worth about US $1.2 billion to the global aviation industry. This paper therefore, focuses on bird/wildlife hazard situation in Nigeria using data on reported bird/wildlife strikes in the country. Available data show that between 2005 and 2010, a total of 209 strike incidents were reported in the country. Kites and hawks were found to be responsible for 57% of reported strikes. Several factors including lack of adequate data, shortage of funds, inadequate training of staff and lack of public awareness about bird/wildlife hazard were found to be militating against effective control in Nigeria. The paper concludes by making recommendations towards reducing bird/wildlife hazard in the country. These include staff training and retraining, developing good data bank based on proper reporting and analysis, improved funding and creation of public awareness about bird/wildlife hazard in the country.

Keywords: bird/wildlife, strike, aviation, hazard, control