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