Amaravati: Strategies for prevention of bird strikes discussed

Amaravati: Dumping of waste, existence of poultry farms, water bodies outside the airport, fruit plantations on the premises of Airport boundary wall are attracting birds resulting in increase of bird hits to aircraft. This has been causing potential threat to safety of aircrafts and passengers, observed officials participated in a meeting at Vijayawada Airport Director's office here on Monday.

Aerodrome Environment Management Committee (AEMC), Aerodrome Committee Meeting (ACM) and Anti Hijack Mock Exercise are conducted at the office of Airport Director, Vijayawada Airport under the Chairmanship of KRM Kishore Kumar, Principal Secretary, Home Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, informed G Madhusudana Rao, Airport Director in a statement.

KRM Kishore Kumar, Home Secretary is the Chairman for the meetings and G Madhusudana Rao, Airport Director is the convener. The meeting was also attended by Sub Collector Swapnil and DCP Harshavardhan Raju.

AEMC is conducting the meeting once in every two months to discuss about the Wildlife Hazard Management at Airport, control of unauthorised constructions in the premises of the airport.

Officials from state police, APCRDA, Food and Safety, Pollution Control Board, Revenue Department, Airlines, and Airports Authority of India attended the meeting and formulated various risk reduction measures.

This Committee develops and implements an effective bird and wildlife control setup for the airport.

The Chairman advised the Revenue department and AAI to earmark boundaries where slaughterhouses, dhabas, restaurants shall not be there and strictly monitoring the "no slaughterhouse zones."

Sub Collector of Nuzvid suggested to form a committee constituting Revenue Inspector, AAI official, Panchayat Secretary and Gannavaram police for monitoring the dumping places once in every week. DCP Law and Order informed that notice has been served to six agencies regarding usage of laser lights.

Aerodrome Committee meeting and Anti Hijack mock exercise have been conducted after AEMC meeting.

Chairman appreciated the agencies for involving efficiently in the meetings and mock exercises and formulating good safety and security policies in Vijayawada Airport.