Southampton Airport a Safer Place Because of Effective Bird Dispersal

Bird controllers at Southampton Airport are always on the lookout for new innovations to make this place safer for all the visitors and the people who are working there. The Aerolaser Handheld, in use since June 2014 and has proven to be an effective bird dispersal tool at Southampton Airport.

“We use the Aerolaser Handheld all the time”

Airport: Southampton Airport, United Kingdom
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Product: Aerolaser Handheld
Reason: Danger of runway incursions and failing methods during the day
In use since: June 2014

Benefits for Southampton Airport
• Improved safety; due to prevention of runway incursions
• Deployment during bright daylight
• Improved working conditions; no need to get out of the car
• Perfect operating range; no need to get out of the car
• Cost reduction; less pyrotechnics needed
• Faster interventions

Situation before
The airport used a variety of methods to discourage and repel birds from the runway area. This includes habitat management, broadcasting of bird distress calls, pyrotechnics and an earlier model of the handheld laser.

Results after use
The enhanced laser technology of the Aerolaser Handheld simulates a physical danger to the birds, causing the bird to fly away to protect itself. The Aerolaser represents an innovative step, increasing the efficiency of bird strike prevention tactics and makes airside operations even safer. The team has successfully implemented the Aerolaser and is very impressed with the results.

Southampton Airport a safer place because of effective bird dispersal

Bird controllers at Southampton Airport are always on the lookout for new innovations to make this place safer for all the visitors and the people who are working there. The Aerolaser Handheld, in use since June 2014, made a tremendous difference to achieve this goal.

Daniel Townsend, airside operations manager, describes the Aerolaser Handheld as ‘absolutely fantastic’ for bird dispersal. Not only is it really effective, the Aerolaser also allows bird controllers to stay within the car. “This is opposed to having to get out and get wet or blown around. So it really enhances the safety that we have here at the airport.”

Benefits
Ian Cross is one of the bird controllers who benefits from the Aerolaser. He and his team never leave for work without it: “We use the Aerolaser Handheld all the time that we’re out on active bird dispersal.“ One of his favorite benefits is that it prevents runway incursion. “We no longer have to call up for entry to a live runway to disperse birds, because we can actually do this from the side of the runway.

Perfect piece of equipment
Townsend and his team chose for the Aerolaser because of its added safety features. “These have proven to be really effective.” Cross gives the prevention to shine in unwanted angles as an example.

“If I were to stumble or fall, then the The Horizon Safety System prevents the laser from being shone into an aircraft or a building.” Another advantage is the outstanding brightness of the laser, which also works in direct sunlight. Furthermore, the scope of two kilometres fits Southampton Airport like a glove, which makes the Aerolaser ‘a perfect piece of equipment’.

Safer and easier
The operations manager also praises the financial benefits of the Aerolaser. “The bird dispersal unit has some costs, such as for flares. We can reduce the amount of money we need to spend on flares. It acts as a great substitute for those.” Because of all these advantages, Townsend describes the Aerolaser as ‘absolutely perfect’ for effective bird dispersal at Southampton Airport. “I wouldn’t change anything on it. I’m glad we’ve got it, because the improved safety on it has made our lives a lot safer, and easier as well.”

Video testimonial