Carry Out Routine Patrols, Inform Pilots Of Wildlife Activity: DGCA’s Guidelines to Prevent Bird Hits At Airports

The circular came after on August 4, Go First's flight to Chandigarh returned to Ahmedabad on Thursday after suffering a bird hit.

Written by: India.com News Desk Edited by: Sanstuti Nath

Updated: August 13, 2022, 4:45 PM IST

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Government removes price cap from domestic airfare (Representational, file photo)

New Delhi: Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday issued guidelines to prevent incidents of birds and other animals colliding with airplanes at airports across India. There have been various incidents of bird hits during the last few weeks. To check up on such activities, the aviation regulator advised airport authorities carrying out routine patrols in random patterns and informing pilots whenever there is any wildlife activity.

The circular came after on August 4, Go First’s flight to Chandigarh returned to Ahmedabad on Thursday after suffering a bird hit. Prior to that on June 19, an engine on a SpiceJet Delhi-bound aircraft carrying 185 passengers caught fire soon after it took off from the Patna airport and the plane made an emergency landing minutes later. The engine malfunctioned because of a bird hit.

What Does New Guideline Say?

• The regulator stated in its circular that all airport operators are requested to review their wildlife hazard management programme to identify the gaps and ensure its strict implementation in and in the vicinity of an aerodrome.
• The regulator stated in its Saturday circular that all airport operators are requested to review their wildlife hazard management programme to identify the gaps and ensure its strict implementation in and in the vicinity of an aerodrome.
• DGCA asked the airports to carry out a wildlife risk assessment and rank them according to the risk posed to aircraft.
• The airports must have a procedure to monitor and record wildlife movement data, it said.
• The airports should also have a procedure to notify pilots “in response to any significant wildlife concentration or activity both on and in the vicinity of the airport”, it mentioned.
• Routine patrolling is the core of the wildlife hazard management programme, it said.
• The patrols should be carried out in random patterns rather than a regular route so that wildlife do not learn or become accustomed to the timing of patrols, it mentioned.
• “Aerodrome operators are directed to forward monthly action taken report on the implementation of wildlife hazard management programme and also provide wildlife strike data…by 7th of every month,” it noted.