The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) recently expressed strong opposition to a plan to further conserve and upgrade a wetland located near the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, fearing it will endanger aviation safety.
CAA officials said the Hsutsuo Port Wetland in Taoyuan County’s Dayuan township is only 1.5 kilometers away from the airport, Taiwan’s main international gateway, making a potential source of danger.
Once the wetland is upgraded, the officials feared, more birds will nest there and the growing bird population will consequently create a greater threat to flight safety.
After Taoyuan Airport’s third terminal is built, its new runway area will be only about 1 kilometer 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,” CAA officials contended.