Is the safety of the aircraft dangerous with turtles? What the hell is Narita Airport

It has become clear that situations can affect the safety of aircraft.

This time, the runway at Narita Airport was temporarily closed due to the influence of turtles, and when NHK interviewed the pond on the side of the runway, it was found that many turtles that are considered to be exotic species are breeding, experts "Immediately need to take measures to prevent intrusion."

Exotic species "Red-eared slider" breeds in large numbers in the pond beside the runway

In September, a turtle was found walking on the runway at Narita Airport, and the runway was temporarily closed because it could interfere with safe operation.

According to the Narita Airport Company, this turtle is considered to be a highly fertile exotic red-eared slider, commonly known as the "Midori turtle," and may have lived in a regulating pond beside the runway.

This time, when NHK obtained permission to cover this pond, it was confirmed that many turtles, which are considered to be the same exotic species, were dried in the shell and were breeding.

There is no fence between the pond and the runway, and until now, turtles were found at Narita Airport in one or two cases a year, but this year there are already four in a row.

Former pilot and aviation critic Hiroyuki Kobayashi said, "There are occasional'bird strikes' when birds collide with aircraft, but turtles are likely to be more dangerous than bird strikes due to their hard shells. Therefore, considering the safe operation of aircraft, it is necessary to take immediate measures to prevent intrusion. "

The pond is a rainwater regulation pond at the airport. No biological survey was conducted before the opening of the pond.

The regulating pond on the premises of Narita Airport, where many turtles that appear to be exotic species have been found, is located in a restricted area just beside Runway A, which is not accessible to the general public.

This pond, which was created before the opening of the port in 1978, has a size of about 10 hectares and a depth of about 3 meters, and has the role of adjusting the amount of rainwater that has fallen in the airport to flow into the river.

According to the Narita Airport Company, the creatures in the pond have not been investigated, and the ecology of the turtle found this time is unknown.

Satoshi Shirai, Manager of the Runway Maintenance Department of Narita Airport Corporation, said, "We have not been able to identify the route for turtles to enter the runway at this time, but we would like to consider whether there are other measures that can be taken in addition to the conventional runway inspection. I was talking.

If a turtle is sucked into the engine, it may lead to an accident.

In September, Japan Airlines co-pilot Shigetoshi Hashi, who found a turtle walking on the runway at Narita Airport, checked the runway for foreign matter just before takeoff, and found that the turtle was on the left front. It means that I found.

The turtle then walked toward the center of the runway, reporting to the controller that it could lead to an accident if sucked into the engine of a subsequent aircraft, after which the runway was closed.

Mr. Hashi said, "As the co-pilot of Japan Airlines' aircraft, whose symbol mark is the crane, I think turtles are auspicious animals, but I hope they will not invade the runway."