Kolkata: The city airport has roped in a Bengaluru-based agency to carry out a study and suggest a way to curb bird strikes.
So far, 52 suspected bird hits have been reported by pilots to the ATC at Kolkata airport this year. Aircraft have been grounded due to damage caused by bird hits or forced to return after a take-off, leading to delays inconveniencing passengers and spelling losses to airlines. A plane suffered a major damage after a bird was sucked into the engine last year; six engine blades had to be replaced for it to fly again.
The agency appointed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will study the species of birds found in and around the airport and their flight pattern — time and direction — to check if they encroach on the flight path. The study will also analyse what attracts the birds to the areas they fly to and suggest measures to prevent their movement in the vicinity of the airport. Within six months, the agency will submit the report, along with the analysis and solutions, to the AAI, based on which the Kolkata airport authorities will try to work on it. “We want to address the situation. We have sought professional help,” said airport director Kaushik Bhattacharya.
The authorities earlier took conventional measures, such as deploying bird chasers and using zon guns, to drive birds away. But officials feel an in-depth study was needed to address the root cause of the problem, especially as pilots reported the threat of bird hit had increased in recent years. “The traditional measures to chase away birds did meet success but we also need to address the root cause of the issue,” said Rajender Singh Lahauria, general manager of the Air Traffic Management on the sidelines of a discussion on Safe Take Offs on the occasion of International Civil Aviation Day on Saturday.
08/12/19 Zeeshan Javed/Times of India
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So far, 52 suspected bird hits have been reported by pilots to the ATC at Kolkata airport this year. Aircraft have been grounded due to damage caused by bird hits or forced to return after a take-off, leading to delays inconveniencing passengers and spelling losses to airlines. A plane suffered a major damage after a bird was sucked into the engine last year; six engine blades had to be replaced for it to fly again.
The agency appointed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will study the species of birds found in and around the airport and their flight pattern — time and direction — to check if they encroach on the flight path. The study will also analyse what attracts the birds to the areas they fly to and suggest measures to prevent their movement in the vicinity of the airport. Within six months, the agency will submit the report, along with the analysis and solutions, to the AAI, based on which the Kolkata airport authorities will try to work on it. “We want to address the situation. We have sought professional help,” said airport director Kaushik Bhattacharya.
The authorities earlier took conventional measures, such as deploying bird chasers and using zon guns, to drive birds away. But officials feel an in-depth study was needed to address the root cause of the problem, especially as pilots reported the threat of bird hit had increased in recent years. “The traditional measures to chase away birds did meet success but we also need to address the root cause of the issue,” said Rajender Singh Lahauria, general manager of the Air Traffic Management on the sidelines of a discussion on Safe Take Offs on the occasion of International Civil Aviation Day on Saturday.
08/12/19 Zeeshan Javed/Times of India
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