By Tajdar H. Zaidi
Lucknow: The airspace around Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) in Lucknow is becoming increasingly perilous—not primarily due to adverse weather conditions or technical malfunctions, but rather due to two escalating man-made threats: encroaching illegal high-rise structures and an alarming increase in bird activity, both of which have aviation experts deeply concerned.
A recent comprehensive safety survey conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has brought to light a startling revelation. While 624 unauthorised obstacles—ranging from towering buildings to improperly placed antennas and even loudspeaker systems—have been identified within a 20-kilometre radius of the airport, aviation officials warn that the more immediate and unpredictable danger comes from bird strikes caused by improper waste disposal near the airfield.
According to airport officials, over 40 meat shops located within a 3-kilometre radius of CCSIA are openly dumping raw meat waste. This reckless disposal practice is attracting large flocks of scavenging birds—primarily kites and crows—especially during early morning and evening hours, which coincide with the busiest flight schedules.
“This is not just a matter of inconvenience; it is a serious safety hazard,” said a senior AAI official on the condition of anonymity. “A single bird strike at the wrong moment can be catastrophic, especially during takeoff or landing when aircraft are most vulnerable.” The official referred to a chilling near-miss in January 2023, when an AirAsia flight bound for Kolkata suffered a bird strike moments after takeoff from Lucknow, triggering an emergency return and rattling passengers.
Despite the existence of regulations banning meat shops and slaughterhouses near airports, enforcement remains weak. Civic bodies have failed to clamp down on violators, and in many cases, action is delayed or absent. Though airport authorities resort to scare tactics such as bursting crackers and deploying trained personnel to disperse birds, these measures offer only temporary relief.
Simultaneously, the AAI’s obstacle limitation survey has revealed 624 serious infringements of the flight path clearance regulations. These include high-rise buildings, towers reaching up to 170 meters in height, unauthorized mobile towers, and even loudspeaker systems installed at places of worship, all of which pose a grave threat to aircraft navigating the approach and departure paths.
Out of these flagged structures, 319 are buildings that exceed the permissible height restrictions, and 214 are trees whose unchecked growth is obstructing critical aerial corridors. According to current aviation safety norms, any structure within a 20-kilometre radius of the airport must adhere to strict height limits, especially within 9.1 kilometres of the runway, where maximum allowable elevations range between 155 and 205 meters depending on proximity and alignment with flight paths.
Yet, enforcement remains sluggish. Airport authorities attribute the lack of coordination to the inadequate collaboration among municipal departments, urban development agencies, and local law enforcement. “Not only is identification slow, but once an obstacle is flagged, the process of removal or demolition gets caught in bureaucratic red tape,” said an AAI engineer familiar with the obstacle mapping process.
This safety audit assumes even greater significance in the aftermath of the recent Air India Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, which has refocused national attention on systemic lapses in aviation infrastructure and regulatory enforcement.
Former civil aviation officials and safety analysts are now raising red flags over the risks at Lucknow’s airport. “What’s happening in Lucknow is a textbook example of how neglect and poor planning can set the stage for disaster,” said a retired Director of Civil Aviation, adding that “safety can’t be compromised for convenience or political expediency.”
Experts insist that urgent corrective measures must be taken, including the immediate relocation of meat shops outside the airport’s no-objection zone and fast-tracking demolition of unauthorized buildings and obstructions. They warn that without decisive intervention, Lucknow may be courting the same fate as Ahmedabad, where preventable lapses led to devastating loss of life and aircraft.
“Air safety isn’t optional—it’s an absolute requirement,” the former official emphasized. “Delays, denial, and disregard can turn a manageable risk into a mass casualty event. The time to act is not after tragedy strikes, but now.”