<p>Mysore, Hubli and Mangalore airports may well become the country’s first bird-strike-free airports if the Bird Strike Research Group of India has its way.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The research group, which was set up last year to look into the issue of bird strikes, has advised the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to implement certain methods to do away with such strikes. The three airports are being used by the group for its pilot study.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, K Ramachandra of the study group said: “We decided on the three airports as one (Mysore) is a new airport, the other (Hubli) is a medium-sized airport and the third (Mangalore) is a coastal airport. These choices will give us options to uncover methods to prevent strikes under a variety of situations.”<br /><br />The project is to begin with an examination of bird migratory habits around these airports before other essential factors are examined in order to develop counter measures.<br /><br />Once the analysis of the migratory pattern is complete, the institution plans to deploy measures including using Micro Air Vehicles (MAV), that resemble the winged vertebrates to frighten away birds. The micro vehicles are currently under development by the National Programme (NP-MICAV) for MAVs. <br /><br />Ramachandra, who is also the CEO of NP-MICAV, said: “An intelligent MAV with stored data on the general behaviour of birds will perform three roles — flash high-frequency stroboscopic lights, emit loud, recorded bird distress signals and release smoke or gas.” These would be sufficient to clear the skies over airports of birds.<br /><br />In 2009 alone, aviation companies suffered a loss of Rs 7 crore because of damage caused to aircraft by 241 bird hits (up to October), sources said.<br /><br />The scientists also want the MAV to be equipped with a data-processing system which will help it perform vital functions, such as differentiating between aircraft and birds. The micro vehicles are also to have a camera. <br /><br />Ramachandra also revealed that a processing algorithm will be installed to assist the MAV count the number of birds, their distance, and even control operations so that midair collisions between vehicles are avoided.<br /><br />According to Ramachandra, once the project takes of completely, each of these three airports will be able to operate at least 10-12 MAVs. However, developing an all-weather capability vehicle and programming it in a way that prevent MAV in-flight collisions is still a challenge, he said.<br /><br />As part of its research, the Bird Strike Research Group has also maintained records of bird strikes in the country, but said that its records were incomplete. <br /><br />“Unlike in America, Canada or other countries, bird strike records are not maintained in a central database in India and the information is not easily available,” Ramachandra said. <br /><br />The group also plans to join the membership of the international bird strike committee that will see many collaborative research and training programmes supported by lateral tie-ups with other Bird Strike Committees and the International Bird Strike Committee.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Mysore, Hubli and Mangalore airports may well become the country’s first bird-strike-free airports if the Bird Strike Research Group of India has its way.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The research group, which was set up last year to look into the issue of bird strikes, has advised the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to implement certain methods to do away with such strikes. The three airports are being used by the group for its pilot study.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, K Ramachandra of the study group said: “We decided on the three airports as one (Mysore) is a new airport, the other (Hubli) is a medium-sized airport and the third (Mangalore) is a coastal airport. These choices will give us options to uncover methods to prevent strikes under a variety of situations.”<br /><br />The project is to begin with an examination of bird migratory habits around these airports before other essential factors are examined in order to develop counter measures.<br /><br />Once the analysis of the migratory pattern is complete, the institution plans to deploy measures including using Micro Air Vehicles (MAV), that resemble the winged vertebrates to frighten away birds. The micro vehicles are currently under development by the National Programme (NP-MICAV) for MAVs. <br /><br />Ramachandra, who is also the CEO of NP-MICAV, said: “An intelligent MAV with stored data on the general behaviour of birds will perform three roles — flash high-frequency stroboscopic lights, emit loud, recorded bird distress signals and release smoke or gas.” These would be sufficient to clear the skies over airports of birds.<br /><br />In 2009 alone, aviation companies suffered a loss of Rs 7 crore because of damage caused to aircraft by 241 bird hits (up to October), sources said.<br /><br />The scientists also want the MAV to be equipped with a data-processing system which will help it perform vital functions, such as differentiating between aircraft and birds. The micro vehicles are also to have a camera. <br /><br />Ramachandra also revealed that a processing algorithm will be installed to assist the MAV count the number of birds, their distance, and even control operations so that midair collisions between vehicles are avoided.<br /><br />According to Ramachandra, once the project takes of completely, each of these three airports will be able to operate at least 10-12 MAVs. However, developing an all-weather capability vehicle and programming it in a way that prevent MAV in-flight collisions is still a challenge, he said.<br /><br />As part of its research, the Bird Strike Research Group has also maintained records of bird strikes in the country, but said that its records were incomplete. <br /><br />“Unlike in America, Canada or other countries, bird strike records are not maintained in a central database in India and the information is not easily available,” Ramachandra said. <br /><br />The group also plans to join the membership of the international bird strike committee that will see many collaborative research and training programmes supported by lateral tie-ups with other Bird Strike Committees and the International Bird Strike Committee.<br /><br /></p>
