New Bird Strike Measures to be Tested at KIX, ITAMI and KOBE

Kansai Airports Group is pleased to announce that the trial operation of the bird control device "Bird Sonic" *1 will begin on Friday, March 1, 2024, at three airports in Kansai (Kansai International Airport, Osaka International Airport and Kobe Airport).

This trial will be an industry-academia joint demonstration experiment with Okayama University of Science using the bird control device "Bird Sonic" developed by T.M. WORKS Limited. The devices will be installed near the landing strip of each airport to reduce the frequency of bird strikes which pose risks of aircraft damage, flight cancellations and delays.

"Bird Sonic" randomly irradiates high frequencies to encourage avoidance behavior without harming birds. It also prevents birds from habituating to sounds by changing frequencies and irradiation patterns.

Kansai Airports Group will continue to work with affiliated companies to create a safe and secure environment for airport users.

*1 Bird Sonic
It is a bird control device developed by T.M.WORKS Limited, whose technology is verified and promoted by Okayama University of Science, as an industry-academia joint initiative. The technology of “Shika Sonic (Deer Sonic)”, originallydeveloped to prevent collisions between cars and wild animals, has been applied to control birds. It is a repellent sound machine that randomly irradiates high frequency sound waves to encourage avoidance behavior without hurting animals. The range of sound wave irradiation is 150 to 200 meters, and it 
is also used in local airports, railway tracks, seaweed beds, and farms. (This high frequency wave does not affect the human body.