To prevent bird hits, airport brings in experts

New Delhi: By pointing out differences between birds that soar, birds that dive, and birds that hover, an illustrated brochure for pilots is helping them avoid bird hits.
The brochure, prepared by S Sateesan, an ornithologist on the rolls of Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), is part of what environmentalists call “a professional, sustained” plan for controlling birds and animals in airports and preventing disaster.
Experts like Sateesan have identified and recorded distress calls of different species of birds. The airport has already installed scarecrows emitting these calls to drive flocks away when aircrafts are taking off or landing.
“Each bird group behaves differently, and this has been elaborated in the brochure,” said Arun Arora, head of corporate communication for DIAL. “By arming the pilot with this knowledge, we are teaching him to predict how particular birds will fly and in their typical numbers, groups, or formations.”
He said DIAL had created new posts for engaging ornithologists and other experts.
01/10/07 Neha Sinha/Delhi Newsline

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Oct 2007, New Sep 2007, Safety Oct 2007