Wildlife hazard management and mitigation in Banjul International Airport
Lamin Sanneh
Airside/wildlife Control Assistant
Gambia Civil Aviation Authority
Brikama Gidda, The Gambia
(220) 335-6662
sanaylolly1990@gmail.com
and
Kumba Gassama
Airside/wildlife Control Assistant
Gambia Civil Aviation Authority
Tujereng, Banjul, The Gambia
Kumbis.20@icloud.com
Abstract: The proposed presentation on wildlife hazard management and mitigation in Banjul International Airport aims to create awareness and build a collective commitment among all stakeholders to address the challenges pose by wildlife – aircraft interaction in BIA by implementing robust mitigation strategies, monitoring systems, and fostering education. BIA ensures the safety of both aviation operations and the precious wildlife surrounding the airport. Together we can strike a harmonious balance between aviation and wildlife conservation. Serving as a crucial gateway linking The Gambia to the global community, Banjul International Airport faces unique challenges due to its proximity to diverse wildlife habitats. The safety of both human lives and the invaluable wildlife surrounding us is a shared responsibility that lies close to our hearts. The coexistence of human infrastructure and wildlife is a delicate equilibrium that requires proactive measures to ensure harmony and forestall any potential conflicts. As a member of the Airside unit, we witnessed firsthand the potential of consequences of avian collisions with aircraft and the aftermath results; hence, it is incumbent upon us as diligent members of the Airside team to prioritise and implement effective wildlife mitigation and control strategies. I take immense pride in sharing with you that the management of BIA has recognised this formidable challenge and is resolutely working towards its resolutions. Kindly allow me to illuminate the key initiatives and measures being undertaken, in which our involvement is vital.
Knowing well that wildlife are attracted to the airfield in order to meet their basic needs in food, water, shelter and security/protection, controlling is the significant. Therefore, to repel them from the airfield, these basic requirements have to be properly managed or completely eradicated, thus the implementation of the following practices.
ANTHILL DEMOLITION: Birds/wildlife need food to survive and reproduce and it is through reproduction they multiply in numbers. To make Banjul international airport less attractive to birds, in the form of food, anthill demolition is frequently observed so as to destroy termites and their mounds.
Besides the termite mounds and ants, rodents and reptiles such as mangoose, squirrels, snakes reside in them. Vultures, crows and Raptors use termite mounds as vantage points for hunting.
CONTROL BURNING: The existence of different trees on the airfield also serves as a magnet in attracting wildlife. The airfield is regularly burn in order to eliminate any food sources that may be hidden under the leaves or in the grasses.
GRASS CUTTING: Since our airfield is dominated by pennisetum purpureum schumach that has high yield in both wet and dry season and also bears seeds at its full maturity cycle thereby attracting birds. To promote active wildlife management and enhancing visibility from every nook and cranny of the airside, grass cutting is duly performed all year round. Short grass policy (15-20 cm ) is observed along the runway shoulder, 50 meters into the airside, where long grass policy is observed simultaneously. The two methods are implemented due to the financial strength of BIA coupled with the bird species that frequent the airside as well.
BIRD PATROL: This is key to wildlife management. It gives wildlife control personnel glue on the wildlife species on the airfield, their behaviour, hotspots and perhaps the applicable control methods on various species.
BIRD CONTROL METHODS: Given the fact that different wildlife species explore the airfield and among the same wildlife species are differences in behavioural patterns which make wildlife control hectic, thus the call for variety of techniques. Banjul international airport being twenty-four hours operational, it is expected to face challenges like any other airport;however, regardless of its low volume of aircraft movements as well as limited financial muscles, it tirelessly observes different wildlife control means such as bird scaring, use of gas cannons, handheld lasers, rifles, explosives, and pyrotechnics amongst other measures.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMES: The involvement of stakeholders in safety at Banjul international airport is paramount because safety is everyone’s business. Since the airport is sandwiched by communities that engaged in different activities which prompt wildlife presence at the airport, it is with utmost significance they are informed. Educating the inhabitants about the repercussions of their activities around the airport would go a long way in installing safety and raising awareness. Agricultural activities, sand mining, erection of dumpsites, animal husbandry, encroachment of settlements etc are those practices that always cause wildlife presence on the airfield.
DUMPSITE CLEARING: Despite the fact that the Airport Service Manual states that airports do not have overall power over the activities that transpired off the airfield, the management of Banjul international airport has a cemented relationship with communities (its neighbours) and that involves Brikama Area Council. For this reason, the management of Banjul international airport ensures that dumpsites within the 13k radius are cleared and controlled often.
13 KILOMETRES SURVEY: A successful wildlife management plan goes beyond on-airfield wildlife management only. It encompasses both the airfield and off airfield wildlife management thus the call for monthly 13k wildlife monitoring survey. The survey identifies wildlife attraction sites ( dumpsites, reservoir, zoo, abbatoirs quarry fields and agricultural activities ) within the 13 kilometer radius and finding solutions to them. It also identifies the bird species within, their flight paths, roosting sites, time on and off the roosting sites, behaviour etc.
Lamin Sanneh
I am Lamin Sanneh a Gambian by birth. I am 30 years old. I attended St. Edward Lower Basic School in 1999-2006, then to Albreda Upper Basic School from 2006-2009, and then I later proceeded to Kinderdorf Bottrop Senior Secondary School in Brikama 2009-2012. In 2012, I advanced to the tertiary institution in Gambia College School of Education in pursuit for a Higher Teacher’s Certificate from 2012-2015. After successfully obtaining my certificate from the Gambia college, I taught for three years before I joined the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority in August 1st 2017 as an Airside/Wildlife Control Assistant. Being so much in love with what I am currently doing daily (saving lives and properties), I want to explore every opportunity in order to equip myself as a knowledgeable and reliable wildlife Control Assistant for my employer and the entire aviation industry at large.
Kumba Gassama
I am kumba Gassama a Gambian by birth. I am 25 years old. I attended Tujereng Lower Basic School from 2004-2010 and then later proceeded for my Upper Basic Schooling from 2010-2013. Then from 2013 to 2016 I attended the Gambia Senior Secondary School. I. 2016 I went to the university of the Gambia where I obtained a degree in biology. In November 2017, I joined the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority as a firefighter and then two years later in shifted to the Airside unit, a departmental switch as an Airside/wildlife Control Assistant. Enjoying what I am doing, I look forward to expanding my knowledge and experience by learning from the industry’s best personnel.