Barn Swallows - Barn Swallows divert aircraft

Planes Diverted because of Mass Swallows

By Angie Wilken
I contacted ACSA radar team specialist Albert Froneman

Barn Swallow Red Alert

HI Albert

Can you confirm that a swallow red alert was issued last night ( about 6pm) from the radar to a plane approaching to land ?

From the ground that's what appeared to have happened, the sky was thick with swallows.
I was at Proposed Froggy Pond viewing site with spectators and the plane aborted landing and pulled up into the clouds.

Look forward to your response

Best Wishes

Angie

Hi Angie,

Earlier today 30^th March we had a high risk condition which led to a warning being issued and a runway change from 06 to 24

This must have been what you observed.

The birds are present in very large numbers at the moment.

Rgds,

Albert

_________________________

Hi Angie, Just to let you know, I flew in from Jhb. on Wed 30-03-11 around dusk (Damn flight was delayed) and after the pilots spiel about preparing to descend, he came back on and told us all that we were plane no.2 on a holding pattern as there was swallow activity near the airport, he then explained a little bit to the passengers about the swallows (I felt quite chuffed that ACSA were actually caring I suppose) Sure enough we circled a few times then eventually landed from the Westbrook side.

This was the first time I’d heard anything like this (I fly once sometimes twice a month to Jhb) so I even spoke to the pilot about it and he said it doesn’t happen that often, I then chibbed him about what height he’s at and what speed he’s doing as he’s flying over the park (I was just curious) he said about 400-500 Ft. and about 250Km/hr.

Jim Retson
Technical Manager - KZN