SVPIA launches SAVE campaign to reduce number of bird strikes

In a bid to bring down instances of bird hits involving flights at the international airport here, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) today launched a dedicated initiative aimed at spreading awareness about saving birds.
With International Civil Aviation and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) more concerned about bird strikes, the AAI has taken a proactive measure this year prior to the onset of monsoons, when these incidents generally peak up, a senior officer of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) said.
The initiative, titled Saving Avians and Environment (SAVE)--the campaign to create awareness among stake-holders--involves installing an acoustic system at the airport.

"A sound acoustic system--Sound Bird Expeller--which emanates sound repetition to scare away birds, has been installed at the airport as the part of our efforts to reduce bird strikes," SVPIA Director R K Singh said.
SVPIA has so far recorded two birds hits this year, lower than previous years. While 19 incidents of bird hits had been reported in 2010, the number stood at 18 in 2011 and 13 last year.
The airport records around 130 flight movements (both take-off and landing) per day.

"The airport has a dedicated team of 15 personnel involved in reducing the bird strikes. Their strength can be increased if need arises", Singh said.

AAI Deputy General Manager (Environment) Santosh Kumar said the idea behind the campaign was to save life of birds.
"Birds are an integral part of our environment. We are trying to involve people in this (community relations) what we call (as) People Participation in Prominent Projects (PPPP)," he said.