Incheon Airport Deploys Four "Bird-Control Laser Guns" with a 2,000-Meter Range

30 Times the Range of Shotguns; Deployed Along Runways
Blocks Large Flocks of Migratory Birds at Night and in Winter
Bird-Detection Radar to Be Installed in 2028

Incheon International Airport Corporation is introducing laser equipment to prevent the risk of bird strikes in the airspace above the airport.

On the 15th, wildlife control officers at Incheon International Airport demonstrate bird control operations using a new laser device in an area near Terminal 1. Incheon International Airport Corporation

Incheon International Airport Corporation said on October 18 that it had newly introduced four laser guns for bird control to enhance aircraft operational safety.

The newly introduced equipment uses lasers to prevent birds from approaching aircraft flight areas. Developed by a South Korean company and patented by the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the devices have been deployed one at each of Incheon Airport's four runways and have been officially in use since October 15. The new laser guns have an effective bird-control range of about 2,000 m, more than 30 times the 60 m range of conventional shotguns.

The corporation plans to supplement existing methods by concentrating laser gun operations during seasons and nighttime hours when the equipment is most effective. Under the conventional shotgun-based control method, birds are difficult to identify visually at sunrise and sunset, when they are most active, so thermal imaging cameras and other equipment have to be used. By contrast, using laser guns, which offer high visibility at night, during those hours can further improve control efficiency. The corporation also plans to make active use of the equipment's wide control range to respond to large flocks of migratory birds, including geese, during winter.

Introducing laser guns at airports had been difficult due to concerns that they could obstruct pilots' vision, among other issues. However, the corporation worked with government agencies to establish a framework for their use by refining safety management procedures. In February 2025, the corporation proposed to the government ways to use laser equipment without compromising aircraft safety. In April 2025, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport established a policy to introduce bird-detection radar and laser equipment. In May 2026, it completed revisions to related guidelines, including the "Standards for Reducing the Risk of Collisions with Birds and Other Wildlife" and the "Standards for Managing Aviation Obstacles and Confirming Flight Safety." The corporation subsequently completed the development of equipment safety management and operating procedures in July 2026, obtained operating approval from the Seoul Regional Aviation Administration in September 2026, and finalized the formal introduction of the equipment in October 2026.

Following the introduction of the laser equipment, the corporation plans to add bird-detection radar around 2028. Once the radar is in place, it will be possible to monitor bird movements in real time within a 13 km radius of the airport, which is expected to further strengthen the airport's response capabilities.

"We expect the introduction of this new equipment to significantly enhance Incheon Airport's bird-control capabilities and the safety of aircraft operations," said Cho Yong-su, head of the Operations Division at Incheon International Airport Corporation. "We will continue to expand cooperation with relevant agencies and the adoption of advanced technologies to prevent bird strikes and provide the public with even safer airport services."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.