 "Aircraft bird hit incidents increase by 62% in H1 of 2023, says DGCA")
An AIX Connect flight flying to Surat returned to Delhi on Friday as the plane's windshield cracked after suffering a bird hit during take-off.
Such bird hit incidents are increasing in India, the DGCA data revealed, and it comes at a time when airlines are increasing their flights to meet the rising demand.
The number of aircraft bird hit incidents in India increased by 62.29 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to 1,149 in the first half of 2023, as per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) data reviewed by Business Standard.
incidents of strikes by other animals at Indian airports also rose to 20 in the first half of 2023 from 14 during the corresponding period a year ago.
Bird hit incidents and strikes by other animals are considered one of the most potent threats to flight operations.
"As far as bird hits are concerned, we have put measures in place at airports, which include installing bird dispellers, sound guns, and other methodologies," Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said in February.
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Scindia explained that birds come to areas surrounding certain airports, which remain unclean.
"It is not because they make their homes there, but because they are attracted to some objects in that area. Therefore, to keep areas clean and make sure birds do not cluster around areas of transportation, which may be a threat to airlines, it is important for us," he had said.
While bird hit incidents rose by 62.29 per cent Y-o-Y in the January-June period of 2023, the number of scheduled flights in India jumped by just 14.56 per cent in the same time period, as per data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
According to a senior DGCA official, state governments have been asked to comply with Rule 91 of The Aircraft Rules, 1937.
"The regulator is aware of bird hits and strikes by other animals," the official added.
Rule 91 talks about strict regulations regarding disposal of garbage (carcass) after slaughtering and flaying of animals within a 10 km radius of any airport.
Birds like vultures and animals like dogs are attracted to garbage left out in the open, leading to bird hits and incidents of strikes by other animals.
Every airport where scheduled flight operations take place has an airfield environment management committee to identify sources that are attracting stray animals and birds in the vicinity of that aerodrome.
All airport operators in India have been advised by the DGCA to conduct awareness campaigns in the schools and localities around the airports regarding proper garbage disposal.
In August last year, the DGCA issued guidelines for airport operators mandating routine patrols in random patterns in the vicinity of airports and informing pilots whenever there is wildlife activity.
The patrols should be carried out in random patterns rather than on a regular route so that wildlife do not learn or become accustomed to the timing of patrols, the guidelines mentioned.
All airport operators are requested to review their wildlife hazard management programme to identify the gaps and ensure its strict implementation in the vicinity of an aerodrome, the guidelines noted.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had earlier this year told Business Standard that it has taken measures to mitigate the number of bird hits and strikes by other animals.
These include maintaining grass height at an appropriate level, removing garbage from the airport area, deploying bird scarers, using LPG guns, using spikes on elevated lights so that birds do not sit there, and removing termite colonies with the help of pest control.
The authority added that it is also engaging with the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), various ecology sections of universities, forest departments and zoo authorities to study bird and animal activities near airports so that entities can give suggestions on how to curb their presence.