Ahmedabad airport in 'critical' danger

Ahmedabad: The rise in the incidence of bird hits at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVP) in Ahmedabad has forced the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to declare it a 'critical airport'. Though this raises fresh worries about the safety of flights at SVP, sources said the DGCA announcement may lead to supply of much needed equipment to the airport to prevent bird hits.
Airport Authority of India (AAI) sources in the city said that laser guns and pyrotechnic pistols may finally be approved for SVP. Some days back, a technical team from Delhi had arrived here to give a demonstration of the equipment before AAI officials, the sources added.
AAI officials here do not deny that the number of bird hits at the Ahmedabad airport is unacceptably high but they are surprised at the DGCA data on bird hits for the city airport.
According to the DGCA data, there were 34 bird hits at SVP between January and October this year, which is a record for the airport. Data with the AAI, on the other hand, says there were only 16 bird hits at the airport during this period.
The AAI officials do not dispute the DGCA data, but they said the airlines using the airport reported all bird hits to the DGCA but they did not report them to the authorities at SVP.
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVP) in Ahmedabad, which has been declared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)as a 'critical airport' in relation to bird-hit risk.
Sources said that as the DGCA has declared the Ahmedabad airport a 'critical' case, the authorities concerned will now do something to end the menace.
21/11/09 Satish Jha/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Airports Nov 2009, Safety Nov 2009