BIRD strikes directly cost the Airport Company South Africa (ACSA) more than R4 million last year and indirectly between two and four times that figure. This was revealed on Thursday at a national workshop and the launch of the ACSA and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) partnership to minimise bird strikes which pose a danger to aviation flights. Project co-ordinator Albert Fronenan said bird strikes caused severe damage to flight engines, resulting in delays and inconvenience to passengers. In most severe cases birds get stuck in the fan blades causing the engine to blow up before takeoff, he said. Bird strikes cost the USA and Canada US5000 million last year.