Comprehensive Upgrades to Navigational Safety Facilities and Bird Strike Prevention
Runway Extension and Installation of Bird Detection Radar Also Planned
Jeonnam Province will significantly enhance the safety standards of Muan International Airport in accordance with the "Aviation Safety Innovation Plan" announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on April 30.
Under this plan, Jeonnam Province will replace the existing concrete berm-type azimuth facilities with lightweight steel frame structures by August.
In addition, the current longitudinal safety area of 199 meters will be expanded to at least 240 meters at both ends of the runway to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommended standards, thereby establishing a safety buffer zone to prepare for emergency situations.
The runway, currently 2,800 meters long, is also scheduled to be extended to 3,160 meters by August, which is expected to make the takeoff and landing of medium and large aircraft safer and smoother.
In particular, measures to prevent bird collisions will be dramatically strengthened. In the second half of this year, Muan International Airport will become the first airport in the country to install bird detection radar, enabling real-time monitoring and analysis of bird movements.
This state-of-the-art system, which will prevent collisions between aircraft and birds in advance, is considered a core piece of equipment for aviation safety innovation at Muan International Airport.
Additionally, supplementary equipment such as thermal imaging cameras and sonic generators will be introduced by August, and the number of personnel dedicated to bird response will be significantly increased from the current four to twelve by the end of the year. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also plans to develop drones for bird dispersal and conduct pilot projects at Muan International Airport.
Environmental management around the airport will also become more systematic. Previously, the management area for bird-attracting facilities was within a 3- to 8-kilometer radius of the airport, but this will be expanded to 13 kilometers. Furthermore, an integrated monitoring center equipped with CCTV for bird surveillance and data analysis functions will be installed on a trial basis next year, enabling more precise and rapid real-time monitoring and response.
The navigational safety facilities at Yeosu Airport will also be greatly improved. By the end of the year, the 4-meter-high berm with azimuth facilities will be removed and replaced with lightweight structures designed to break upon impact. The design process for bird detection radar is also set to begin, with the goal of introducing it in 2026. These efforts, together with those at Muan International Airport, are expected to enhance the overall safety of airports in the Jeonnam region.
Kim Yungrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, stated, "We expect this aviation safety innovation plan to be a turning point for the resurgence of Muan International Airport," adding, "We will mobilize all our capabilities to ensure that Muan International Airport is reborn as the leading gateway airport in the southwest region, with the highest level of safety and global competitiveness."
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