In the future, objects such as navigation safety facilities installed around runways must be made of breakable materials. Additionally, a basic bird strike prevention plan must be established every five years, and an annual bird strike risk management plan must be developed for each airport. The risk of bird strikes within a 13 km radius of the airport must also be assessed annually.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced on the 17th that it will improve the installation standards for airport facilities and strengthen bird strike prevention measures. The revised enforcement decree and enforcement rules of the Airport Facilities Act will be open for public comment from the 18th to January 27th next year. Officials from related agencies, including the Seoul Regional Aviation Administration and Incheon International Airport Corporation, inspected the usability and safety of new facilities at Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 1 ahead of the reopening of the second runway.
MOLIT will first improve the installation standards for airport and airfield facilities and navigation safety facilities. Objects such as navigation safety facilities installed around runways must be made of breakable materials, and the target areas for these installation standards will be clearly defined as the end safety areas and adjacent landing and open areas. Additionally, the criteria for breakable materials will be specified by the Minister of MOLIT, considering the weight and speed of aircraft, as well as the structure and strength of the objects.
MOLIT will also strengthen bird strike prevention measures. The Minister of MOLIT will establish a mid- to long-term bird strike prevention plan every five years, and airport operators will develop an annual bird strike risk management plan for each airport. The contents to be included in the basic plan and risk management plan will also be specified. Additionally, airport operators must annually assess the risk of bird strikes within a 13 km radius of the airport, evaluating the probability of bird strikes and the severity of the damage caused by major bird species.