Persistent birds circling flight path endangering flights at Thiruvananthapuram airport

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM March 26: Thiruvananthapuram Airport faces a severe threat from a large flock of birds frequently occupying its flight path. While bird activity near airports is common, pilots report unusually high bird density at this particular airport. The Airport Authority has expressed concern that failure to control the bird population could result in major accidents.

Recently, an Indigo flight bound for Bengaluru experienced a 13-hour delay due to a bird strike. This is just one of five bird strikes involving aircraft within the past month alone.

Despite efforts by contracted ‘bird chasers’ to disperse the birds using loud noises, their effectiveness appears to have decreased over time, as the birds have adapted and no longer fear the sounds. Airport officials have written to the government, urging them to address the issue by removing nearby garbage heaps, which attract the birds. Additionally, open spaces near airport walls and waste from local meat shops contribute to the bird problem.

Birds such as eagles, pigeons, crows, cranes, and owls gather near the airport to feed on meat waste, posing a significant danger to aircraft. Waste disposal tends to coincide with peak flight operations, further exacerbating the issue.

Regulations permit only one bird strike per ten thousand flights, but the airport experiences nearly ten bird strikes each month. Due to the serious consequences of bird strikes, including multiple levels of investigation, pilots often refrain from officially reporting them.

Under current aviation rules, open slaughterhouses or meat shops are prohibited within a 10-kilometer radius of airports, with legal action possible for violators.

Threats Posed by Bird Strikes
Bird strikes have the potential to cause a variety of severe issues, including:
Engine failure, which can lead to mid-air fires.
Damage to digital control systems, resulting in potential loss of control for pilots.
Brake system malfunctions, as seen in the case of an Oman Air flight that hit an eagle.
Flight disruptions and cancellations, such as a Gulf Air flight to Bahrain that had to return to its departure point due to a bird strike.
Extensive mechanical damage, as experienced by a Singapore Airlines flight following a bird strike.
Fire hazards, as demonstrated by a recent incident involving a Patna-Delhi flight that caught fire shortly after a bird strike.

Risks to the Surrounding City
Experts have cautioned in an Environmental Committee meeting that bird strikes not only endanger airline passengers but also pose a significant risk to those residing in densely populated areas surrounding the airport. Officials emphasize that the issue must be addressed with urgency and should not be taken lightly, as the gravity of the problem often becomes evident only in the aftermath of an accident.

Setback in Efforts to Reduce Bird Strikes

Plans to establish a meat rendering plant near the airport, aimed at reducing bird strikes by properly disposing of meat waste, have been abandoned. The City Corporation’s proposal, initially part of Adani Airport Holdings’ environmental responsibility initiative, faced opposition from the Airport Authority of India (AAI), citing concerns that the plant itself could exacerbate the bird problem near the runway.

Corporation Secretary Jahamgeer S confirmed that all proceedings related to the rendering plant have been halted. “We moved forward with the project in collaboration with the Adani Group, which operates the airport. However, AAI raised objections, stating that such a facility could worsen the bird menace rather than reduce it,” he said.

As an alternative, the City Corporation is shifting its focus to the construction of a modern slaughterhouse at Kunnukuzhy, with a trial run expected to commence in April.

The original proposal, estimated at Rs 1.5 crore, saw involvement from four companies during the bidding process, with three shortlisted for implementation. The continued operation of illegal slaughterhouses near the airport remains a significant safety threat, as frequent bird strikes continue to disrupt flight operations.