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Comprehensive Solution

Avian Detection & Deterrent Solution

Overview of Bird Strike Risk Management and Bird Detection & Deterrence

Bird strikes remain a key aviation safety risk, driven by environmental and behavioral factors, and impacting flight safety and airport operations. To mitigate this risk, airports are adopting radar-based, integrated detection and deterrence solutions that enable all-weather and data-driven bird strike risk management.

Introduction to Bird Strike Challenges

Bird strikes represent a long-standing and systemic safety risk in global aviation operations

Bird strike incidents cause physical damage to aircraft and result in flight delays, cancellations, and increased operational costs

Accelerated urbanization has forced birds to migrate toward airport surroundings in search of food and shelter

Climate change has altered bird migration patterns and breeding cycles, increasing unpredictability

Aviation authorities and airport operators worldwide now regard bird strike mitigation as a critical safety priority

Comprehensive Analysis of Bird Strike Impacts

Bird ingestion can cause severe engine damage, potentially leading to engine failure

High-speed bird impacts may fracture cockpit windshields, affecting pilot visibility and safety

Structural damage to wings or fuselage may compromise aircraft controllability

Historical incidents, such as the “Miracle on the Hudson,” highlight the serious safety implications of bird strikes

Beyond repair costs, bird strikes cause significant indirect economic losses through flight delays and operational disruptions

Factors Contributing to Increased Bird Strike Risk

Nearby water bodies, forests, and agricultural land provide attractive feeding and nesting habitats for birds

Agricultural activities and poorly managed waste facilities attract large bird populations near runways

Climate change alters migration timing, altitude, and routes, increasing unpredictability

Birds may appear in non-traditional seasons and flight profiles

Inadequate airport wildlife and habitat management directly increases bird strike probability

Traditional Airport Bird Observation Methods

Limited coverage across large airport areas, resulting in monitoring blind spots

Significantly reduced effectiveness during night, fog, rain, and other adverse weather conditions

Inability to continuously track, record, and analyze bird movement patterns

Ineffective detection of high-altitude migratory birds and large-scale bird activity

Comparison of Modern Bird Detection Technologies: Cameras vs. Radar

Camera systems provide intuitive visual data, suitable for target identification and localized monitoring

Camera performance is affected by weather, lighting, and limited field of view

Radar systems operate continuously under all weather and lighting conditions

Radar enables wide-area coverage and simultaneous multi-target tracking across the airport airspace

Radar systems accumulate long-term datasets supporting early warning, analytics, AI modeling, and trend forecasting

Common Bird Deterrence Technologies

Acoustic deterrence

Rapid response and flexible deployment, but birds may develop habituation and noise impact may occur

Laser deterrence

Highly effective, silent, and resistant to habituation; requires strict operational safety control

Biological deterrence

Environmentally friendly and sustainable, but operationally complex and resource-intensive

Visual deterrence

Low cost and easy deployment, but effectiveness diminishes over time due to bird adaptation

Integrated deterrence strategies

combining multiple methods with detection systems provide optimal long-term effectiveness

Official Guidelines and Regulations for Wildlife Hazard Management

Aviation authorities worldwide require airports to assess bird strike risks and implement effective, technology-driven wildlife hazard management measures.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

ICAO requires continuous monitoring of bird activity and encourages the use of advanced technologies, including radar, to support flight safety.

Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB)

JCAB emphasizes enhanced bird monitoring, particularly at night, and promotes integrating radar detection with deterrence systems for automated management.

EASA and IBSC / ACI

EASA, together with IBSC and ACI, requires ongoing wildlife risk assessment and supports combining habitat management with advanced monitoring technologies to reduce bird strike risk.

Integrated Airport Bird Radar Solution

EchoVista provides a comprehensive solution centered on the B-Series radar, integrating electro-optical monitoring and bird deterrent systems to enable all-weather, full-airspace bird detection and risk warning. Through real-time monitoring, data analysis, and automated deterrence strategies, the solution effectively reduces bird strike risk and enhances airport operational safety. For more information, please contact us.