35% rise in animal and avian strikes at Ahmedabad airport

After a brief lull in 2021-22, the number of bird strikes at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport in Ahmedabad has begun to rise again.

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Some 38 aircraft landing or departing from the city airport suffered bird hits in 2022-23, up 35% against 29 in 2021-22 - the lowest in a five-year period, suggests data by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Bird strike incidents touched an alarming 73 in 2019-20 - the year before the Covid-19 lockdown, which dropped to 41 in 2020-21, thanks to a slew of wildlife management measures taken by the city airport authorities. 

Back then, the airport was managed by the AAI, which had commissioned a study to the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), to identify wildlife presence in the airport premises and take necessary measures.

AAI had also deployed a man dressed like a gorilla outside the airport terminal to shoo the langurs away, which was another safety concern.Reduced aircraft movement due to Covid-19 restrictions, in addition to these measures, led to a reduction in bird strikes.

However, the alarming increase in the previous fiscal year is a grave concern according to aviation experts.