The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) yesterday expressed strong opposition to a plan to upgrade a wetland located near Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, fearing it would endanger aviation safety.
CAA officials said that as the Hsutsuo Port Wetland in Taoyuan County’s Dayuan Township (大園) is located only 1.5km from the airport, its proximity could pose safety problems.
After the wetland is upgraded, the officials said, more birds could nest there and the growing bird population would threaten flight safety.
After Taoyuan Airport’s third terminal is built, its new runway area will be only about 1km away from the wetland, CAA officials said.
“Greater numbers of wild birds visiting or staying in the wetland will potentially pose greater hazards to aircraft taking off or landing,” the officials said.
Meanwhile, officials from the Flight Safety Foundation, Taiwan, said the foundation had helped the CAA and the military solve bird aircraft strike hazards (BASH) over the past decade.
Foundation statistics show that of the 119 BASH incidents that occurred last year, 100 took place between April and September — the breeding season for wild birds.
Of that total, 16 were serious BASH incidents, involving damage to engine blades and dents to the aircraft’s outer surface, the foundation said.
Last year, Taiwanese aircraft experienced three bird strike incidents while flying abroad, all of which caused damage.
The Wildbird Society of Taoyuan said it would continue to push for the inclusion of the wetland as a national wetland area.
In related news, the government has embarked on the nation’s third comprehensive national land development plan.
The plan is aimed at “creating an innovative environment” and “building a sustainable society” by 2030, the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) said.
CEPD vice chairman Hwang Wang-hsiang (黃萬翔) said yesterday the Strategic Plan for National Spatial Development, which the Executive Yuan approved in February, covers national land planning in the fields of industry, resources and manpower.
It hopes to achieve successful developments in “ecology, production and living” simultaneously to further the country’s sustainable development, Hwang said.
A summary of the strategic plan will be released in book form today to promote the government’s concept of homeland development.
Arguing that the sustainable development of national land is vital for the nation’s long-term peace and stability, as well as people’s well-being, the council said the plan would serve as a blueprint for long-term development planning by the central government, local governments and all government agencies.
The plan presents strategies to accomplish a series of goals, including the development of a safe natural ecology, creating “prime and healthy living” conditions, “establishing a knowledge-based economy and international logistics capability, saving energy, reducing carbon emissions and conserving water,” the council said.
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