This archive report was first published on 21 July 2019.
On July 21, 2019, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) announced plans to spend Sh1 billion to address the growing concern of bird strikes at the country's airports.
The initiative aims to reduce the number of bird strikes, which have resulted in costly engine damages and emergency landings.
According to KAA statistics, Kisumu International Airport has the highest chances of experiencing bird strikes, with 19.8 incidents per 10,000 aircraft movements since July 2018 to April 2019.
The authority plans to install bird strike avoidance radar at the country's three premier airports: Kisumu International Airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
The system will enable pilots to visualize birds up to five nautical miles away and warn them in advance, reducing engine-associated damages from 33 per cent to five per cent.
While Wajir Airport also struggles with bird strikes due to a nearby slaughterhouse and poor sanitary conditions, the installation of the gadget has not been prioritized due to low traffic and financial constraints.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), 30 per cent of aircraft engine operational life is damaged by foreign objects such as birds and stones.
The proposal is expected to be implemented in the next financial year, following the National Treasury's push to improve aviation safety in the country.
