Dogs on runways are here to stay

Bangalore: Thursday afternoon’s incident in Bangalore, in which the Kingfisher flight IT-2427 was obstructed by a dog on runway, breaking its nose wheel, once again raises questions about passenger safety at Indian airports.
“We witness at least one incident of dog straying on runway every month,” says an airport official in Mumbai. “Dogs on runway keep aircraft flying in circles over the airport for at least 30 minutes. The polluted Mithi river nearby and garbage dumps attract these dogs,” he adds.
Recently, a pilot witnessed a dog giving birth to three puppies by the side of runway 27 on a taxiway at Mumbai International Airport.
Mumbai International Airport Limited (Mial) has appointed a contractor to catch dogs and hand them over to the municipal corporation.
“The menace at metro airports is less as steps are taken to keep birds, dogs, cattle and other irritants at bay. But dogs are a real danger at small airports where there are no full-time bird-chasers. There is no way we can permanently prevent obstructions on the airside,” an airport official said.
Bangalore airport authorities have dashed off letters to the Brihat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike regarding the dog menace.
29/03/08 Bhargavi Kerur/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Airports Mar 2008, Safety Mar 2008