Business
Bird hits & wildlife hazards: DGCA issues lists of do’s & don’ts to airport operators
NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday issued a fresh set of directives for airport operators to tackle “potential wildlife hazards” like animals on runways and bird hits. The regulator has issued two ways — passive and active management — to control this issue that aggravates during monsoon when wildlife activities increase and “pose a serious threat to aerodrome operational safety. Most wildlife incidents occur at critical phase of flight resulting in structural damage to an aircraft.”
Titled, “management of potential wildlife hazards at licensed aerodromes”, the advisory circular says: “The activity of birds and animals in and around an aerodrome is a potential source of hazard to safe operation of aircraft… possibility of collision between an aircraft and birds/animals. Wildlife strikes pose a significant threat to flight safety and have caused a number of accidents and incidents in India.”
Aircraft Rules prohibit dumping of garbage and slaughter of animals that may attract wildlife within 10 km of an airport. “At aerodrome, the main objective is to bring about a change in wildlife behaviour so that they do not enter the critical safety zones where the aircraft operates…. habitat management is probably the most important method of preventing or reducing wildlife strikes on and around an aerodrome. Modifications to the aerodrome’s habitat / environment to eliminate or exclude food , water and shelter can limit the attractiveness of birds and other wildlife at aerodrome,” it says.
“Passive management” aims to make the environment less attractive to wildlife. Steps under tis include: “Grass height management; removing water, or excluding access to water recommended; avoid posts, signs and poles that wildlife may perch on; manage apron lighting enclosures to discourage nesting and manage runway lighting to reduce insect attraction. Ensure perimeter fences are regularly monitored for damage.”
Regularly monitoring of buildings and other infrastructure for nests and roosts along with regular pruning to get rid of dense growth has been recommended. “Poor waste management will be a significant risk to an aerodrome. All bin lids must always be closed to restrict wildlife attraction.”
“Active management” technique deployment has been recommended to change the habitat of an aerodrome. These include a “wide range of acoustic, pyro techniques or air-sirens to provide enough stimulus to make birds leave runways.” When efforts to stop wildlife coming too close to the aerodrome fails, “different techniques needs to be employed which may involve trapping and releasing them in a new location.”
“Based on (these) guidelines, all airport operators are requested to review their wildlife hazard management plan/programme (WHMP) to identify the gaps and ensure strict implementation of plan for wildlife hazard management on and in the vicinity of aerodrome… to minimise risk of collisions between wildlife and aircraft, aerodrome operators are required to deploy wide range of methods / techniques”.
Airport operators have been advised to establish procedure to inform pilots if there is a significant wildlife concentration or activity in or near an airpot. Runway safety inspections will need to be performed along with other wildlife hazard management patrols.
“Aerodrome operators are directed to forward monthly action taken report (to DGCA) on implementation of wildlife hazard management programme and also provide wildlife strike data by 7th of the every month,” DGCA Joint DG D C Sharma’s circular says.
Titled, “management of potential wildlife hazards at licensed aerodromes”, the advisory circular says: “The activity of birds and animals in and around an aerodrome is a potential source of hazard to safe operation of aircraft… possibility of collision between an aircraft and birds/animals. Wildlife strikes pose a significant threat to flight safety and have caused a number of accidents and incidents in India.”
Aircraft Rules prohibit dumping of garbage and slaughter of animals that may attract wildlife within 10 km of an airport. “At aerodrome, the main objective is to bring about a change in wildlife behaviour so that they do not enter the critical safety zones where the aircraft operates…. habitat management is probably the most important method of preventing or reducing wildlife strikes on and around an aerodrome. Modifications to the aerodrome’s habitat / environment to eliminate or exclude food , water and shelter can limit the attractiveness of birds and other wildlife at aerodrome,” it says.
“Passive management” aims to make the environment less attractive to wildlife. Steps under tis include: “Grass height management; removing water, or excluding access to water recommended; avoid posts, signs and poles that wildlife may perch on; manage apron lighting enclosures to discourage nesting and manage runway lighting to reduce insect attraction. Ensure perimeter fences are regularly monitored for damage.”
Regularly monitoring of buildings and other infrastructure for nests and roosts along with regular pruning to get rid of dense growth has been recommended. “Poor waste management will be a significant risk to an aerodrome. All bin lids must always be closed to restrict wildlife attraction.”
“Active management” technique deployment has been recommended to change the habitat of an aerodrome. These include a “wide range of acoustic, pyro techniques or air-sirens to provide enough stimulus to make birds leave runways.” When efforts to stop wildlife coming too close to the aerodrome fails, “different techniques needs to be employed which may involve trapping and releasing them in a new location.”
“Based on (these) guidelines, all airport operators are requested to review their wildlife hazard management plan/programme (WHMP) to identify the gaps and ensure strict implementation of plan for wildlife hazard management on and in the vicinity of aerodrome… to minimise risk of collisions between wildlife and aircraft, aerodrome operators are required to deploy wide range of methods / techniques”.
Airport operators have been advised to establish procedure to inform pilots if there is a significant wildlife concentration or activity in or near an airpot. Runway safety inspections will need to be performed along with other wildlife hazard management patrols.
“Aerodrome operators are directed to forward monthly action taken report (to DGCA) on implementation of wildlife hazard management programme and also provide wildlife strike data by 7th of the every month,” DGCA Joint DG D C Sharma’s circular says.
