A 'bird strike' has been pointed out as one of the causes of the landing accident involving a Jeju Air passenger plane at Muan International Airport, which occurred on the 29th, leading to increased interest in bird detection and deterrent methods at domestic airports. There are also concerns that Muan Airport, where the accident took place, did not adequately prepare personnel and facilities to prevent bird strike incidents.
According to the Korea Airports Corporation and others on the 31st, a total of 623 bird strike incidents have been recorded at domestic airports over the past 5 years and 6 months from 2019 to the first half of this year. The number of bird strikes at all airports increased steadily after 2020, with the following counts: ▲108 in 2019 ▲76 in 2020 ▲109 in 2021 ▲131 in 2022 ▲152 in 2023. This increase is attributed to climate change causing migratory birds to become resident birds, as well as changes in migration timing and species.
Domestic airports contract professional service companies to deploy dedicated personnel or manage bird habitats and use devices such as shotguns, noise cannons, and sonic deterrents to prevent collisions between birds and aircraft. Recently, research is also being conducted on using radar detection and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to track bird migration routes.
Shotguns are used to disperse flocks of birds in the air by firing blank shots or to drive them outside the fence. In unavoidable situations, live ammunition may also be fired if birds approach aircraft during takeoff or landing. Noise cannons, installed in various locations around the airport, create loud sounds by exploding gas to scare away birds.
Sonic deterrents are used to scare away birds that fly into runways and other areas where personnel cannot approach. They emit sonic waves that birds dislike over distances of several hundred meters to change their movement direction. However, experts explain that despite these efforts, it is difficult to prevent bird strike incidents 100%.
Airlines train pilots on how to respond to bird strike situations through flight simulators. Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, and Eastar Jet have their own simulators, while other airlines either rent simulators or receive training abroad.
The size of personnel dedicated to bird strike prevention varies significantly from airport to airport. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Incheon International Airport has a workforce of 40 dedicated to bird deterrence, while Muan, Gwangju, Ulsan, and Yeosu each have 4, Yangyang has 3, and Sacheon, Pohang-Kyungju, and Wonju each have 2. The Ministry explained that the number of personnel may differ depending on the number of flights operating.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the lack of detection capabilities before the actual removal of birds that fly into airports. According to a report from Member of Parliament Park Yong-gap, none of the 14 airports operated by the Korea Airports Corporation have bird detection radar. Moreover, machines utilizing thermal imaging technology for bird detection are installed only at Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju.
Park's office noted, "Since Tokyo Haneda Airport has been operating bird detection lasers since 2012 and most airports in the U.S. use radar and visual detectors, our preparations are insufficient in comparison."