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 for each airport must be formulated. The risk of bird strikes within a 13 km radius of the airport must also be evaluated annually.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 17th that it will improve the installation standards for airport facilities and strengthen bird strike prevention measures. The ministry will issue a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Airport Facilities Act from the 18th to January 27th next year. On the 5th, officials from related organizations such as the Seoul Regional Aviation Administration and Incheon International Airport Corporation inspected the usability and safety of newly installed facilities at Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 1 ahead of the reopening of the second runway.
The ministry 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 longitudinal safety area and the adjacent landing area and open area. Additionally, the criteria for breakable materials will be specified by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, considering the weight and speed of the aircraft, and the structure and strength of the objects.
The ministry will also strengthen bird strike prevention. To this end, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will establish a medium- to long-term bird strike prevention plan every five years, and airport operators will formulate 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 conduct an annual risk assessment of the probability and severity of bird strikes within a 13 km radius of the airport.