The Merlin Radar has this year been introduced at Riga International Airport.
Bird strike prevention is an important aspect of risk management at every airport. More and more airports nowadays take an integrated approach to reduce bird strikes. With the use of modern radar technology, birds can be detected long before they become a hazard to aircraft landing or taking off. Modern software automatically analyses their flight path and warns the tower when a collision is likely. The Merlin Radar has been introduced this year at Riga International Airport and many other airports across the globe.
Another possibility is Mivotherm, a high resolution thermal camera. This camera is able to detect birds and warn the tower in real-time just as the radar. Frankfurt International Airport will introduce this system in 2010.
With detailed information on birds provided, the tower can warn pilots and take appropriate countermeasures: acoustic and visual devices, predator birds or bird robots.
The problem of bird strikes is as old as the aviation industry. As airports grow, professional bird control solutions had to be implemented too. A combination of the most effective solutions available has proven to be most effective. Nowadays, bird control includes habitat management, the use of natural predators, bird robots, acoustic methods, visual (LASER) methods, large nettings, the use of natural aromatic substances (Methylanthranilate) and bird houses.
