Hurghada International Airport Rolls Out Advanced Wildlife Control Measures to Boost Aviation Safety

The Egyptian Airports Company, affiliated with the Civil Aviation Authority, is preparing to implement bird and wildlife control measures at Hurghada International Airport through specialized companies. This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance safety and ensure the smooth operation of air traffic at the airport.

The planned work aims to mitigate the risks posed by birds and wildlife within and around the airport, recognizing them as a crucial element of aviation safety. Bird populations and other wildlife can pose potential hazards to aircraft, particularly during takeoff and landing.

Sources at the Hurghada International Airport revealed that the plan includes providing specialized equipment for bird control, such as handheld lasers, manual devices for emitting distress and deterrent sounds, and vehicle amplifiers to emit sounds that help disperse birds and keep them away from operational areas of the airport.

The importance of these measures stems from the significant growth in air traffic and tourism in the Red Sea Governorate, necessitating the continuous development of safety systems and the management of various potential risks that could affect air traffic and airport operations.

Controlling bird and wildlife hazards is a fundamental part of airport risk management procedures. The nature of the work requires continuous monitoring of the areas surrounding runways and taxiways, tracking bird and animal populations in the airport’s vicinity, and managing them using specialized methods that comply with safety requirements and airport regulations.

Al-Masry Al-Youm previously published several reports about the dangers of birds of prey congregating near Hurghada International Airport. These congregations are due to the proliferation of food waste collection sites from hotels and tourist facilities, which are a potential source of attracting large numbers of birds to the areas surrounding the airport. Several airlines have also filed complaints regarding the damage caused by the birds around Hurghada Airport and the potential risks posed to aircraft safety and air traffic.