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