Stork alert in the skies over Istanbul: Pilots and tower in contact

With rising temperatures, the migration journey of storks from South Africa to Europe has begun.

Stork flocks, which move North in March and April and South in September and October, are actively using Istanbul's airspace.

Pilots and air traffic controllers working at Sabiha Gökçen and Istanbul Airport are constantly sharing information regarding the location of stork flocks.

Moving from sub-Saharan Africa, the storks travel through the Nile Valley, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, entering Turkey via the Belen Pass in Hatay. The most intense migration period occurs between March 15 and April 15.

THOSE MOMENTS REFLECTED IN THE RECORDS

Air traffic controllers continuously informed pilots regarding the stork flocks seen in Istanbul Airspace. Those moments were reflected in the records as follows;

TOWER: For your information, there are intense stork crossings right now. After lining up for runway 2-4 left, you will see them on your left. They are not on the landing/takeoff path, they will approach in 1-2 minutes, just for your information.

TOWER: There is a very dense flock of storks. Can you track them, sir?

PILOT: Yes, we can track them. They seem to be crossing, we are waiting.

PILOT: There is a flock of storks at the 400s parking position, it does not affect the approach path much. They need to clear out. I am sharing this for information purposes.

TOWER: Understood, sir, thank you.

PILOT: I don't know if there is trash at the beginning of the runway. They are drawing a circle and are gathered there. So, you will see their density in the air in the region where we are, towards the beginning of the runway.

TOWER: They are passing through right now, thank you.

News Source: 12punto