| Green laser technology that sweeps airport runways | | | | used by more than 40 airports around the world. The |
| to scare away birds could help regional civil aviation | | | | automatic laser system, TOM500 and handheld laser |
| authorities to combat a large threat to aircraft safety | | | | torch, LEM50 were developed by ornithologists from |
| during take off and landing. Bird and wildlife strikes to | | | | the French Civil Aviation Authority and the technology |
| aircraft costs the US civil aviation industry more than | | | | has proven to be highly effective at clearing birds from |
| US$600 million annually, while 220 people have been | | | | runways and airports. The TOM500 laser scans |
| killed world-wide as a result of bird strikes in the last 20 | | | | airport runways and surrounding areas at regular |
| years. | | | | intervals, on pre-programmed paths close to the |
| According to the International Civil Aviation | | | | ground, frightening birds away by the stick-like effect |
| Organisation, 90 percent of bird strikes occur at or | | | | of the laser. |
| near airports during take-off or landing and the US | | | | "This technology is very effective because it uses a |
| Federal Aviation Administration has reported 61 per | | | | green, collimated laser beam," said Franck Monin, |
| cent of bird strikes occur at less than 30 metres. | | | | Director of Sales and Marketing at Lord Ingenierie. |
| Nearly 65 per cent of bird strikes occur at dawn or | | | | "Ornithologist surveys have demonstrated that birds |
| dusk, when birds are on runways in search of food. | | | | are very visual animals and are primarily sensitive to |
| As the region's aviation industry expands and the | | | | the colour green. Birds perceive and actually see a |
| volume of air traffic continues to increase, so too does | | | | (virtual) green stick coming towards them. The only |
| the serious threat posed by bird strikes, but a French | | | | alternative to avoid a stick blow is to fly away." |
| firm's sophisticated laser technology could help many | | | | "There is also no bird habituation to this technology. A |
| airports throughout the Middle East solve the problem. | | | | bird will get used to acoustics, but it won't ever try to |
| Lord Ingenierie will use the Airport Show, taking place | | | | test a stick blow, it's the same reflex as a bird flying |
| at Airport Expo Dubai from 2-4 June to educate the | | | | away as a car approaches. There has also been no |
| Middle East aviation industry about their latest | | | | visual hindrance reported by pilots, during the day or at |
| generation green laser technology, which is already | | | | night. |