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Hi-tech tweeters to ward off birds
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 26
Faced with the perpetual problem of bird activity around airbases, which poses a serious hazard to flight safety, the IAF is introducing several new measures to check the menace.

Avian mess at airbases

The tweeter is different for each station and imitates distress sounds specific for birds species around the airbases

The IAF is also trying out a new, non-toxic anti-bird gel that can be smeared in hangars and buildings, which repels birds and prevents them from nesting in corners, beams and cervices.

A PILOT project is underway at a fighter airbase in the region, where Dhub grass, a variety that does not attract birds, is being planted around the runway after.

Prominent among them are installing special tweeters, which have been specially designed to cater to the ornithology pattern of a particular geographical area. This follows a detailed survey conducted by a cell specially set up at IAF Headquarters and anti-bird measures formulated recently by it.

“The tweeter is different for each station and imitates distress sounds specific for birds species inhabitating around the station to ward them off,” an IAF officer said. “These are undergoing trials at various stations and four such machines would be installed at each flying station,” he added. These are solar powered and a Bangalore-based firm has been contracted for the project.

About 10 per cent of the IAF accidents are attributed to bird hits and fighters are particularly vulnerable to this during take-off and landing. A bird ingested by an engine often results in a flameout and recovery at low altitudes is difficult.

Sources reveal that the IAF is also trying out a new, non-toxic anti-bird gel. This is like grease that can be smeared in hangars and buildings, which repels birds and prevents them from nesting in corners, beams and cervices. The IAF is learnt to have approached a Delhi-based firm for procuring the gel. The cost of covering one standard sized hangar is about Rs 15 lakh and once applied, the gel is expected to be effective for five years.

The IAF is also experimenting with use of Dhub grass, a variety that does not attract birds. The pilot project is underway at a fighter airbase in the region, where Dhub grass is being planted around the runway after clearing other vegetation form the area. Initial cost of planting Dhub is said to be high. If effective Dhub grass would be planted at other stations too.

Growing habitations around airfields and consequential garbage littering attract birds, an issue regularly taken up by the IAF with local civilian authorities. In Chandigarh, for example, the IAF has identified about 20 points along the airfield’s flight path that are littered with garbage, thereby attracting birds. Also of concern are unauthorised constructions in the airfield’s immediate vicinity.

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