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