DGCA says locusts are a threat to aircraft, issues guidelines for safe flight

Recognising the highest ever locust activity in the last 20 years, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a circular Friday “strongly advising” flights to avoid flying through any known locust swarms.

According to the circular, flying through a swarm can cause problems for aircraft at the time of landing and takeoff with all the air inlets of an aircraft, including engines, air conditioning packs, etc, prone to being damaged by the insects. They are hazardous to an aircraft’s systems even when it is parked.

“While damage to agriculture and crops by locust swarms is well known, the objective of this operations circular is to get aviation fraternity aware of the risks posed by locust swarms and the need to avoid flying through a swarm,” the DGCA noted.