by ALBERT BRANDFORD

GOVERNMENT SAYS it is taking steps to prevent wild birds and stray animals from damaging aircraft at Grantley Adams International Airport where such damage has in the past led to a loss of more than $200 000 in damage.

That's according to Minister of Agriculture, Senator Erskine Griffith.

The Leader of Public Business in the Senate was yesterday piloting the Airports (Amendment) Bill 2007 providing for the seizure and killing of birds or animals to prevent the endangerment of aircraft operating at the airport and related matters.

The bill reflects some of the organisational changes at the airport which is now run by a board and managed by a chief executive officer (CEO).

It allows the CEO to authorise the killing or seizure of any animal considered to be a danger to aircraft operating at the airport, with the carcass donated for scientific research or disposed of in such manner as he sees fit.

The minister said wild birds created a risk for aircraft taxiing, approaching the runway to land, or about to takeoff, and over the years there were cases where they had damaged aircraft.

"A case which stands out in my mind is one which occurred sometime in 1985 with a 747 jet which was landing," Griffith recalled.

"And that incident led to damages in excess of $200 000 to the particular craft, not to mention loss of revenue as well."

He said that in addition to damages and loss of revenue, there was always the risk of people travelling on the aircraft sustaining injury and posssibly death.

Over the years, he added, the airport authorities had taken a number of measures aimed at reducing those risks even if not eliminating them, including equipment to scare off the birds.

"But I must say that that equipment is not as effective as one would wish because the birds after a while get accustomed to the sound and they realise that they are not suffering any injury and therefore they develop enough courage to remain inspite of the noise," he said.

Griffith said other measures had been tried and had been fruitless, but the increasing bird population coupled with the increasing number of aircraft had made the situation urgent since "the risk of damage to the craft and risk to life become even more heightened".

Independent Senator Dr Frances Chandler urged Government to re-examine some of the legislation controlling stray cows, sheep and dogs which did considerable damage to farmers to make their lives easier.