AIRPORT managers say that they would back the filling in of a St Ouen pond to reduce the risk of bird strikes to aircraft.
The future of the pond at the Simon Sand and Gravel site could be under threat as flocking birds are identified as a potential hazard to aircraft in revisions to the Island Plan that have gone out to consultation.
Airport operations director Sandy Sawyer said that wherever birds flock, there is a risk of a bird strike. ‘The Island Plan consultation recommends that it should be returned to sand dunes, and we would support that view,’ she said.
Mrs Sawyer said that many jet aircraft these days had two engines rather than four, and, as a result, there was a greater risk of both being knocked out by flying through a flock of birds.
