Panel revived to tackle IGI bird menace

New Delhi The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has, ironically, become a bird-watcher’s paradise. With 67 bird-hit cases reported last year, more than double than 30 in 2007, it has prompted the government to revive the National Birds Control Committee after a gap of nearly two decades.
As estimates peg the number of passengers passing through the country’s busiest airport at 37 million next year, the menace caused by the winged creatures have made senior officers sit up and take notice. Headed by Civil Aviation Secretary Madhavan M Nambiar, the National Birds Control Committee held its first meeting on Wednesday with all stakeholders — including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, officials from various airlines, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), and other airport operators.
“Bird strike is a major concern, as it impacts aircraft and passenger safety, and leads to aborted take-offs and emergency landings, among others,” S N A Zaidi, the Director General of Civil Aviation, told Newsline. “Cases of bird-hits have increased substantially with an increase in air traffic.”
Zaidi said garbage disposal around the airport is one important reason that attracts birds. “It has been decided (in the meeting) that garbage dumps, drains, slaughterhouses and so forth should not be permitted within a 10-km distance around the airport,” Zaidi said. “The issue is being taken up with the state government.”
According to officials, another reason cited for frequent bird-hits at IGI is the large number of houses overlooking the runways, along with garbage dumps and drains in the vicinity that attract birds. Airport officials said the problem worsens in the absence of an outlet to discharge accumulated water that attract birds, and it only worsens during monsoons.
06/06/09 Geeta Gupta/Express India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2009, Safety Jun 2009