NEW DELHI: The Government today said that airlines take several measures to tackle the menace of rodents entering stationary aircraft but asserted that since the wiring of the plane is generally bundled it is difficult for a rat to bite these wires.
Besides, measures taken by individual airlines to deal with this issue, airport operators also take steps to eliminate or prevent rats or any other wildlife from entering the aerodrome, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma informed the Lok Sabha today.
Sharma's assertion came in the wake of a recent incident, in which a rodent was sighted by a cabin crew on Air India's flight to Delhi from Melbourne.
The presence of the rodent onboard the Dreamliner B787-800 aircraft had forced the air traffic control to divert the aircraft to Singapore.
"Since the wiring in the aircraft is generally bundled it is difficult for the rat to gnaw them. However, affect on flight will depend on the aircraft system damaged by the rat," Sharma said in response to a question by AIADMK MP G Hari whether the rat onboard can lead to a catastrophe if they start up chewing electric wire.
"Pest/rodent treatment was accomplished at Singapore airport using glue plates. Aircraft was declared serviceable and operated on April 17 (the next day of the incident) back to Delhi," the minister said.
He said periodic fumigation for pest/rodent control and conducting spot checks in catering bonded stores are the measures taken by individual airlines to tackle the menace.
In addition, the aerodrome operator/owner take action to eliminate or to prevent the establishment of garbage disposal dumps or any other source which may attract wildlife/rodent to the aerodrome.