Flyers spot peacocks near airport runway, IAF assures safety measures
Pune resident Gaurav Chattur was travelling with his son on a SpiceJet flight (SG937) to Delhi.
He noticed the three peacocks approximately 40 metres away from the runway when the aircraft was taxiing towards the runway around 7.20am and later expressed his concern through a post on "X".
Chattur, the SpiceJet flight's passenger, told TOI, "I was seated in seat number 1A and couldn't have missed the birds because they were large. But I didn't inform the crew because I didn't want to cause any panic."
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Pune airport director Santosh Dhoke said any queries regarding the sighting of peacocks should be directed to the Indian Air Force (IAF) because it managed the runway area.
The IAF confirmed the presence of peacocks in the Airport Force Station (AFS) in Pune.
A senior IAF officer at the station told TOI, "The presence of peacocks or peahens at the station does not pose a threat to flight operations. All necessary measures are in place to ensure that birds are cleared from the operating area. An ornithology specialist conducted a survey, and the Bird Hazard Combat Team (BHCT) operates 24 hours a day.
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There is no need to augment or deploy personnel from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
We ensure smooth air operations at the base and support civil flights."
The officer added, "Peacocks do not fly; they mostly remain on the ground or sit on tree branches. In the past 20 years, no peacock or peahen approached the runway."
IAF sources said eight to 10 bird-scaring modules, including crackers, drum beating, reflectors, farrow traps, owl modules and Xon guns, were operational at the base.
"These peacocks mainly wander in grass patches of the AFS, where they find their food. They don't go near the runway areas. Additionally, our team is deployed at the runway to manage any ground threats. So far, we have no report about any hindrance to air operations because of peacocks," a source in the IAF said.
A couple of bird strikes, including one earlier this year, were reported in the city. Stray dogs intruded into the runway on two occasions in the past six months.
These incidents raised concerns among activists and flyers regarding civil and military flights' safety at the airport.
HL: PROBLEMS APLENTY
DOG HAZARD
June 29: An Air India Express flight from Bhubaneswar had to abort landing after a dog was spotted on the runway at Pune airport
Impact: Flight delayed, waste of passengers' time
BIRD SCARE
June 20: Bird hit was detected on Air India's Delhi-Pune aircraft after it landed safely
Impact: Thorough check of the plane, unserviceable for a couple of days
LEOPARD ALARM
April 28: A fully grown male leopard was seen near the runway of the Pune airport
Impact: All sensitive areas of the airport, like the runway and taxiways, have been secured
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