Waste dumping, water bodies, plantation attracts birds at Airports, causes bird hits to aircraft

Amaravati: Dumping of waste, the existence of poultry farms, water bodies outside the airport, fruit plantations in the premises of the Airport boundary wall are attracting birds resulting in the increase of bird hits to the Aircraft. This has been causing a potential threat to the safety of Aircraft and passengers, observed officials participated in a meeting at Vijayawada Airport Director's office 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 above meetings and G Madhusudana Rao, Airpot Director is the Convener. Also attended by Sub Collector Swapnil and DCP Harshavardhan Raju among other Dignitaries.

AEMC is conducted once in every 2 months to discuss 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.

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

Sub Collector of Nuzvid suggested forming a committee constituting Revenue Inspector, AAI official, Panchayat Secretary, Gannavaram Police for monitoring the dumping places once in every week. DCP L&O informed that notice has been served to 6 agencies regarding usage of Laser lights.

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

Aerodrome committee meets twice in a year for discussing all the security aspects and Anti Hijack mock exercise will be conducted once in a year.

Roles and responsibilities of different agencies involved in the Committee are explained in detail.

A real-time scenario has been developed by deploying dummy Hijackers and pilots and the Aerodrome Committee members negotiated with the hijackers for fulfilling their demands. Finally, the commando operation took place and all the hijackers are caught.

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