Bird strikes cost Biman Tk 28.46cr in two years

Expressing serious safety concerns over bird strike, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has said the national flag carrier faced a direct financial loss of Tk 28.46 crore – excluding minor or indirect costs – from September 2022 to October 2024 due to bird strikes.

In a recent letter, Biman Managing Director and CEO Md Shafiqur Rahman placed these statistics before Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan.

In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Daily Star, the Biman MD said this is a critical safety concern affecting all airlines in Bangladesh.

According to Biman, a total of 17 incidents of bird strike took place in different flights of Biman in the three international ports – Dhaka, Sylhet and Chattogram – with Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport topping with 12 incidents in 16 months since March 2022.

In the latest incident on May 19, a Turkish Airlines flight narrowly escaped disaster as it successfully made an emergency landing at the Dhaka airport following a bird strike on its second engine.

The flight, carrying 11 crew and 280 passengers, was going to Istanbul, Turkish Airlines said.

According to the Dhaka Airport Traffic Control, engine 2 caught fire immediately after take-off

"As the largest carrier of wide-body aircraft in the country, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is especially vulnerable to this issue and faces significant financial consequences as a result," reads the letter.

The Biman MD called upon the CAAB chairman to take timely action on this matter, saying this could not only prevent substantial financial losses for Biman but also enhance the safety and comfort of our passengers.

Bird strikes are a prevalent phenomenon within the aviation industry worldwide.

"As Biman operates both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft from these airports to various international and domestic destinations, we contend with frequent flight delays and operational disruptions stemming from bird strikes."

The national flag carrier also said the primary species contributing to this issue is the Black Kite. These scavenging birds are often found around runways and taxiways, where they feed on insects.

"The grassy areas surrounding our airfields provide an ideal hunting ground for them, especially after a rain.

During the winter months when they congregate on the warm tarmac and runways. This behaviour significantly increases the risk of bird strikes."

To mitigate this hazard, Biman proposed implementing several strategies.

For instance, maintaining shorter vegetation, as practised in airports worldwide, can reduce the insect population, which is an easy food for birds.

Additionally, airfields such as Singapore utilise light pesticides to control insect populations, thereby indirectly managing bird activity. Adopting similar measures at our airports in Bangladesh could markedly decrease the risk of bird strikes, Biman also suggested.

"Additionally, it is essential to highlight the financial implications of bird strikes for Biman. Due to a shortage of aircraft, we often struggle to maintain schedules, leading to substantial indirect costs," read the letter.

Biman said CAAB's prompt action is necessary to address the bird strike hazard, which is crucial for the safety of the airline's operations and its financial health.

Asked, the CAAB chairman said, "Although we are taking every possible measure, it's a big challenge form them to deter birds due to uncontrolled waste and garbage places surrounding different places of the airport."