Airports are bustling centers of activity, with millions of people passing through them every year. However, with all the movement and commotion, it’s easy to forget that airports are also susceptible to pest infestations. Pest infestations at airports can cause a range of problems, from disrupting airport operations to posing a risk to the health and safety of passengers and employees.
Common Pests Found at Airports
Airports are home to a range of pests that can cause problems if left unchecked. Some of the most common pests found at airports include:
- Rodents: Mice, rats, and other rodents are attracted to airports because of the abundance of food and shelter they provide. Rodents can damage airport infrastructure, spread diseases, and cause electrical outages by chewing through wires.
- Birds: Birds are a common pest at airports, and they can cause a range of problems, from fouling runways and taxiways to posing a risk to aircraft safety by colliding with planes. Bird strikes can be a serious issue, and airports must take measures to prevent them.
- Insects: Cockroaches, ants, and other insects can thrive in the warm, humid environments found at airports. Insect infestations can cause damage to airport facilities, and some insects, such as bed bugs, can hitch a ride on luggage and cause problems elsewhere.
A serious pest infestation at an airport can have significant consequences. Not only can it disrupt airport operations, but it can also pose a risk to the health and safety of passengers and employees.
If left unchecked, pest infestations can cause significant damage to airport facilities, including runways, taxiways, and terminals. For example, rodents can gnaw through wires, causing electrical outages, while bird droppings can corrode aircraft surfaces and clog ventilation systems.
In addition to causing physical damage, pests can also pose health risks. Rodents and insects can spread diseases such as salmonella and Hantavirus, while bird droppings can contain harmful bacteria and fungi.
One of the most serious issues associated with pest infestations at airports is the risk of bird strikes. When birds collide with airplanes, it can cause significant damage and even lead to accidents. This is a particular concern at airports located near bodies of water or other habitats that attract large numbers of birds.
Preventing Pest Infestations at Airports
To prevent pest infestations at airports, it’s essential to have a comprehensive pest management plan in place. This plan should include regular inspections, sanitation practices, exclusion measures, and the use of pesticides as needed.
Regular inspections: Regular inspections of airport facilities are crucial for identifying and addressing any signs of pest activity. Inspectors should look for signs of pest droppings, gnaw marks, and other indicators of infestations.
Sanitation practices: Keeping airport facilities clean and free of food debris is an essential step in preventing pest infestations. This includes cleaning food service areas thoroughly and ensuring that trash is disposed of properly.
Exclusion measures: Sealing any cracks, gaps, or holes in airport buildings can help prevent pests from entering. This includes ensuring that doors and windows close tightly and that screens are in good repair.
Pest control measures: Using traps, baits, and pesticides as needed to control pest populations is an important part of any pest management plan. However, these tradional pest control methods has its own drawbacks, we will talk about some effective control measures in this blog.
Wildlife management: Developing a wildlife management plan to prevent bird strikes and other wildlife-related incidents is critical. This may include using bird repellents, trapping and relocating wildlife, and reducing the availability of food sources that attract birds and other wildlife.
Rats attack UK airline staff – News
Morton Obrien, March 1, 2023
A summary of the news
- Airline staff complain about rat infestation.
- Rodents will infest a room used as a resting place.
- People say that animals climb on their feet and even on their hands.
- The situation started in September last year and is still unresolved.
Rats attack Ryanair staff inside a lounge at Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom.
It is estimated that the rodent infestation affects about 500 workers who depend on the space between working hours and shifts. This information was published by the Liverpool Echo.
An employee of the company, who asked not to be identified, told the news portal that the animals even climb on people’s legs and arms and run around their legs. “One of them jumped on my colleague’s shoulder while he was sleeping. Basically, we were their playground,” he said.
There is also a report of a woman with a fear of rats who suffered an anxiety attack after being infected at work.
Officials say the outbreak started in September last year and the airline and airport management were informed about the situation.
The airport says it was notified of the rats in December and a service was hired to deal with the case.
The staff pressure the airline and the airport and register daily complaints about rodents in the break room.
“We are aware of a pest problem in an area used by Ryanair. We are working with the airline and have appointed pest control experts to resolve this as soon as possible,” a Manchester Airport spokesperson told the Liverpool Echo.
EasyJet passengers slept on floor of ‘rodent-ridden’ Schiphol airport after cancellations
Lamiat Sabin
Friday 16 September 2022
An easyJet passenger says he and dozens of others were forced to spend a night in Amsterdam’s “rodent-ridden” airport after several flights were cancelled at the last minute on Monday.
One member of the group, who were due to fly with easyJet, told the Daily Star they had tried to sleep in the airport while “girls screamed all night” and one woman was “sick with anxiety” at the sight of the mice.
He said that they had been unable to contact easyJet to help arrange accommodation, and instead attempted to sleep on the floor, chairs, or benches while mice ran around looking for scraps of food.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, filmed the “grim reality” of waiting for his next flight out of the Netherlands.
His footage shows a mouse looking for crumbs on the counter of an airport restaurant that had shut for the day.
The mouse searched near the fridge and cupboards – while some passengers sat or lay on rows of chairs nearby.
He said that the stranded passengers were very disturbed by the constant sightings of mice darting around the airport.
“I slept in the airport with girls screaming all night at rodents and one lady was sick with anxiety. I was awake and not bathed for 28 hours,” he told the Star, adding: “I didn’t go many minutes without seeing one.”
Air India Business Class Passenger Finds Insect In Meal Served On Mumbai-Chennai Flight
Recently an Indian diplomat alleged the poor facilities at the airline’s business class lounge at the John F. Kennedy airport in New York.
Last Updated: Feb 28, 2023
An Air India passenger, travelling in business class from Mumbai to Chennai, on Monday shared a video of an insect he found in his in-flight meal. “@airindiain insect in the meal served in businessclass. Doesn`t look like hygiene was taken. My flight was AI671 -Mumbai to chennai Seat 2C,” passenger Mahavir Jain tweeted. Responding to the video, Air India said: “Dear Mr. Jain, we`re sorry to note your experience while flying with us. This is not something good to hear. We strictly follow measures to ensure hygiene at every step of the process.”
Rodrepel™ is a product manufactured by C Tech Corporation which is an extremely low toxicity and extremely low hazard, and environmentally safe anti-rodent additive specially developed for a range of polymeric and coating applications including films, wires, and cables, etc. It is also effective in case the target species are other animals.
The wires and cables used in the airplanes for radar, communication, control, signaling, data transmission, lighting, surveillance, etc. can be incorporated with Rodrepel™ masterbatch to prevent them from pest attack and ultimately avoid any signaling loss, communication disruption or fire hazard. Different types of polymeric seats can be manufactured by incorporating our masterbatch in them.
Rodrepel™ is also available in lacquer and liquid concentrate form and can be easily coated onto an application to repel the rodents.
The liquid concentrate can be blended with paints and applied to the interior and exterior of the airplanes, airports, lounge, restaurants, shops, etc. to prevent the entry of pests in them. The liquid concentrate can be applied to the interior and exterior of the airports and the offices. The storage areas from the airports can be coated with our liquid concentrate to keep those places safe from pest menace. The liquid concentrate can be used in accommodation areas of pilots and crew members. The liquid concentrate is compatible with all types of paints and it dries off easily.
The lacquer can be applied to already installed wires and cables, utility pipes, polymeric and metallic racks, pallets. The already installed arrestor cables can be coated using our Rodrepel™ lacquer which will prevent the rodents from chewing them. The lacquer can be applied to metallic components from the equipment. The lacquer is an easy application that is compatible with most of the surfaces like wood, concrete, polymer, ceramics, concrete, etc.
We have developed our product in the form of a spray, the RodrepelTM rodent repellent spray which is an easy to use product. The product can be sprayed on components from airplanes, offices, kitchen and canteen areas, storage areas, food carts, trolley cars, etc. after clearing the dust and waste from components. It can be sprayed on the wires and cables, seat cushions, doors, and windows of airplanes. It can be sprayed on infested areas and entry points. The product when applied properly repels the pests and protects the components from damage. The expensive components can thus be protected, and unnecessary maintenance cost spent on replacement of the parts damaged by pests can be saved. The product does not cause any harmful effect on human health, non-target species or even target species. The product is safe for the environment.
Pest infestations at airports can be a serious issue that can disrupt airport operations and compromise the safety of passengers and employees. However, by implementing proper measures you can tackle the pest menace at airports. Contact us at technical.marketing@ctechcorporation.com if you’re facing problems with rodents and get best remedies to combat the pest menace.
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http://www.ctechcorporation.com/
http://www.rodrepel.com/
http://www.termirepel.com/
http://www.combirepel.com/
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