Bird Strike Committee Proceedings

 

Date of this Version

May 1999

Abstract

This paper explains how zero bird-strike rate can be achieved by any aerodrome by constant efforts and perseverance of a dedicated team as evidenced from the author’s experience on about 30 aerodromes in India. This paper stresses the importance of conducting survey of problem aerodromes every five years by an expert (Satheesan 1996c), necessity for employing an Ornithologist at every aerodrome, need for regular national-level training for bird-controllers (Satheesan, in press - b) and urgency for setting up Bird-strike Prevention Committees at national (interministerial) and airport levels. Bird strike rates were brought down to zero at the Trivandrum International Airport in 1992 and 1993 and to a low level at the Bangalore Airport in 1993 as a result of implementation of recommendations given by a study team including the author in 1989 and by the author alone afterwards (Satheesan 1996c). Another result of this was that vulture-hits to aircraft have been drastically reduced at Delhi, Bangalore and several other airports. Awareness programmes to educate the public can help reduce bird-strikes (Satheesan 1994a, 1994b). Step by step evaluation of and changes in policies and strategies followed by the Government as well as methods and gadgets employed by airport authorities and replication of successful experiments at problem airports hold the key to translating the dream, zero bird-strike rate, into reality.

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