The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Deccan aircraft grounded due to bird hit

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Deccan aircraft grounded due to bird hit

Special Correspondent

Passengers sent to their destination by another flight
Attributed to water pools in and around the airport

VISAKHAPATNAM: An Airbus owned by Deccan was grounded as it suffered a bird hit before taking off from the airport here on Monday morning. There were some 90 passengers on board the 180-seater aircraft, which was flying on the Kolkata-Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad route.

Second instance

The pilot reported the bird hit while the plane was speeding on the runway for take off, according to commercial manager of Deccan K. Srinivas Reddy. Passengers were sent to their destinations by another flight. This is the second instance of a bird hit after a Spice Jet plane suffered similarly on Saturday.

A spokesman of the Eastern Naval Command said the Naval Air Station INS Dega’s Air Traffic Control (ATC), which controls air traffic, was taking all steps to prevent bird-hits and had, in fact, stepped up the required measures.

It is a normal practice to set off automatic blasts with an LPG-based machine in the vicinity of the runway to scare away birds and the frequency of blasts had been increased. The pilots were also cautioned about the birds flying around and a notam (notice to aviators) was also in place.

Water pools

One reason given for the presence of the birds is the water pools in and around the airport. Birds in search of water during the hot summer days can be seen around the water bodies and in the canal that was being dug to drain out floodwater.

Airport Controller C. Pattabhi said birds searching for food in the residential areas located in the approach path of the aircraft were also posing a hazard. Local authorities would be once again asked to take effective measures for disposal of waste food, he added.

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