Ultrasonic booms to check bird hits at Kolkata airport
Times of India | 3 February 2025
123 Kolkata: The city airport will now deploy sonic and ultrasonic sound waves to scare off birds in a bid to prevent aircraft bird strikes.
In the past, the airport employed bird chasers and also burst crackers to scare off birds. But with a ban on crackers and the bird count shooting up due to market waste being dumped in municipalities in the surroundings, the airport has now decided to adopt devices that can emit various naturally recorded bird distress signals and predator calls to frighten, confuse, and disorient pest birds and pigeons. The AAI has opened a tender for the supply, installation, and commissioning of 20 speaker solar-powered unit electronic bird-scaring devices. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 7.2 lakh.
"The equipment will be capable of working continuously to randomly broadcast at varying frequencies (2,000-10,000 Hz). It shall cover a minimum of 10 hectares and should be weather-proof and designed to withstand outdoor use. The equipment should include features like varying sound, duration of calls, and interval of operations to prevent birds from becoming habituated to distress calls," said an airport official.
Several bird hits were recorded by airlines operating at Kolkata airport in recent years. In the first 10 months of last year, the airport reported 19 confirmed bird strikes and 60 suspected bird interferences. In the previous year, there were 18 confirmed strikes and 91 suspected interferences. In 2022 and 2021, the numbers ranged in the early 60s. In contrast, pre-pandemic, there were barely 40-50 instances of bird interference per year. These numbers have been a cause for worry among airlines, as bird strikes can ground aircraft, cause damage worth several crores, and are a potential hazard to flight safety.
Sources said airport authorities raised the issue of municipalities needing to keep the vicinity free from garbage but only Madhyamgram Municipality kept the garbage dumps clean. Dum Dum Municipality, North Dum Dum Municipality, New Barrackpore Municipality and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation presented a sorry picture.
Officials said pigeons, kites, and lapwings are frequently seen around the airport. Although most bird strikes result in minor damage to aircraft, the impact can be severe if the bird collides with the windscreen or gets sucked into the engine. "If the windscreen cracks in the mi-ddle or inner layer, it can cause problems in maintaining cabin pressure," said an official.