Dear Editor,
Following the recent incident at Eugene F. Correia International Airport involving a Trans Guyana Airways aircraft and a runway incursion by wildlife, it’s clear that some immediate steps are now being taken. Reports from crew departing Ogle indicate that rangers were positioned on both sides of the runway, actively scanning the bushes and attempting to keep animals from straying onto the active strip. A patrol vehicle was also seen prior to taxi.
That tells us one thing, there is awareness, and there is action, even if it’s interim, and that matters. In aviation, however, how we do something is just as important as what we do.
Any personnel operating in close proximity to an active runway, especially at night or in low visibility, must be clearly visible and fully integrated into the operation. That means reflective vests are not optional, they are essential. More importantly, Air Traffic Control must advise flight crews of any ground activity in or near the runway environment. Pilots need full situational awareness, not surprises in the grass at rotation speed.
This is how risk compounds. You fix one hazard, wildlife and unintentionally introduce another, uncoordinated human presence. The effort by the Airport Authorities is commendable. They are responding, and that response should be acknowledged. But this needs to be structured, briefed and standardised. Proper Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) where applicable, Air Traffic Control (ATC) advisories, high-visibility gear, and clearly defined procedures for runway sweeps must become part of the system, not just a reaction in the moment.
Wildlife hazards are not new to aviation, especially in environments like Guyana where nature sits right on the edge of our infrastructure. But managing that risk requires coordination, discipline, and communication across every level, ground crews, ATC, and pilots alike. This is a good first step. Now let’s make it the right one.