Lucknow airport deploys scarecrows, zon guns to keep birds away from flights
1 min read 21 Jun 2023, 09:17 PM ISTThe Indian airspace saw a 52% jump in bird strike incidents in 2022 as commercial aviation picked up significant pace after the pandemic
PremiumLucknow Airport, known as Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, management has installed bird chasers, scarecrows, sound guns and other such devices to keep birds away and to prevent bird hit accidents that tend to plague flight take off and landing. Bird hits have often caused accidents for airplanes while they are flying int he lowest level of the Atmosphere- the Troposphere.
It is no new knowledge that airplanes fly in the Stratosphere to avoid bird hit accidents, however, such accidents are no rarity in India. Ina report by Hindustan Times, it has been stated that Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) management also conducted Wildlife Hazard and Height Restriction (WHHR) awareness workshops in Chillawan and Sarojini Nagar villages located near the airport.
“Inside the airport boundary, the CCSIA has undertaken several measures like deploying bird chasers, scarecrows, zon guns, thunder bombs, and a six-shot launcher to keep birds away. Recently, the airport also acquired two vehicle-mounted devices to keep the birds away," the Hindustan Times report quoted a CCSI Airport spokesperson.
“The Lucknow Airport continuously employs various measures to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft. The airport informed villagers of Chillawan and Sarojini Nagar about the benefits of maintaining cleanliness for the safety of passengers flying from Lucknow Airport. Information regarding risks associated with wildlife or bird activity around the aerodrome was also given to villagers. The airport officials also advised the villagers to cover the waste bins that will keep the birds and other animals away." the report further quoted CCSIA authorities.
The Indian airspace saw a 52% jump in bird strike incidents in 2022 as commercial aviation picked up significant pace after the pandemic. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), last year the country witnessed 2,174 aircraft bird strike incidents, up from 1,430 in 2021.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had earlier this year said that all measures have been taken to address the issue of bird hits and emphasized the need to keep areas around airports clean. “As far as bird hits are concerned, we have put in place all measures at airports, which includes the bird dispeller, sound guns, and other methodologies that will keep birds away from airport areas," the minister had said.