What does the world do to limit aviation accidents caused by birds?

Laser beam shooting, trapping, grass planting, flower planting, dog farming . are methods used by many airports around the world to minimize incidents of bird collisions or other strange objects.

For the aviation industry, it is no small threat to aviation safety for foreign objects to penetrate the airport runway, in which the most significant incidents are related to birds.

According to data from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), every year worldwide, 10,000 cases of cargo accidents are not involved in collisions with birds, causing losses of up to $ 1.2 billion for repairs and flight delay costs.

Birds cause many pitiful accidents for the airline industry.

In Vietnam, from 2014 to 2016, there were 156 cases of strange objects, birds and wildlife infiltrating runways of Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports; In 2016 alone, up to 20 incidents occurred because birds and aircraft were cut off tires.

Recently, Vietnam Aviation Administration re-proposed the Ministry of Transport to approve the project of detecting strange objects with a total investment of nearly VND 1,000 billion. Accordingly, the system features automatic detection and removal of foreign objects accurately without affecting the operation of the airport.

Before the proposal, countries around the world have implemented various methods to "chase birds" on the runway; In particular, many airports spend small amounts of money on scientific and technical means, and many places choose a simpler and cheaper way.

Buy a laser gun worth £ 8,000

The laser gun is being used at Dundee airport, Scotland.

According to the Daily Mail, in the first half of 2015, Dundee Airport (Scotland) spent a large amount of money to buy a laser gun, called Aerolaser, to chase birds at the airport runways. Accordingly, an Aerolaser gun costs up to £ 8,000 (over $ 12,000) at that time.

Analysts, this gun can fire lasers up to nearly 2 km long, without making noise like bullets often used before. In addition, laser gun is used from a long distance, ensuring safety for users, and does not cause harm to birds, ensure humanity.

Spending 9.1 million USD to kill birds

In 2016, the New York City, US government, signed a five-year, $ 9.1 million contract, with the US Department of Agriculture to ask them to survey, manage and study wildlife. at airport.

According to JFK, in order to serve this program, a man with a 12-gauge shotgun in his hand directly killed birds during the period from May to October.

The Guardian reported on January 14, 2017, nearly 70,000 seagulls, starlings, geese and other birds were slaughtered, most by shooting down and trapping.

Plant grass, plant flowers

In 2014, the leader of Dayton International Airport, Ohio, USA, planned to plant 108 hectares of large, dense grass on bare lands around the runway.

According to Dayton Daily News, the purpose of planting grass next to offsetting carbon emissions emitted by aircraft, while reducing the number of bird crashes at the airport. It is known that large birds such as geese and gulls often stay away from tall grasslands. Besides, this method will help the airport minimize costs to the maximum.

About 10 years ago, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (Netherlands) adopted the method of growing tulips and golden narcissus to chase birds, and creating a beauty for the airport.

The airport spokesman said the two flowers will limit rodents and winged animals through the flower-growing area.

Shoot flares

Flares or fireworks are the main method of chasing birds at airports.

Before the preferred laser beam, flares or fireworks were the main method of chasing birds at airports.

Michael Begier, program coordinator of the wildlife disaster program at the US Department of Agriculture, said airports in the United States and around the world all use flares daily to chase bird."Light and noise are noticeable for birds and keep them away," Begier said.

However, for birds of prey, this approach is not very effective compared to other types of waterfowl.

Breeding dogs

In 1999, when the dog was put into use for the first time, the bird crash incidents decreased by about 17%.

A border collie breed, named Sky, is tasked with chasing birds at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Florida for 5 years. In 1999, when the dog was put into use for the first time, bird crashes reduced by about 17%.

According to the airport representative, birds such as herons, white herons or water chickens can get used to flares, but never adapt to natural predators like Sky.

In addition, many other countries also apply unique methods such as raising pigs to eat bird eggs, killing grass and insects to avoid attracting birds and rodents, increasing windshield durability or taking advantage of aircraft radar. to detect birds .