Bird strikes, also known as bird hits or bird aircraft strikes, are collisions between birds and aircraft. They can cause serious damage to aircraft and even result in crashes. Understanding bird strikes is important for aviation safety.
What is a bird strike?
A bird strike occurs when a bird collides with an aircraft. This typically happens during aircraft takeoffs and landings as birds are commonly found flying at low altitudes around airports. The force of impact can damage vital aircraft components like engines or break through the windshield and injure pilots and passengers.
How common are bird strikes?
Bird strikes are a common threat to aviation safety. According to statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there were over 15,000 reported bird strikes in the United States in 2021. However, the actual number is likely higher as not all strikes are reported. Globally, it’s estimated that bird strikes cost the aviation industry over $1.2 billion per year.
What types of aircraft are affected?
All types of aircraft can be affected by bird strikes from small private planes to large commercial jets. However, large jets at higher speeds are more prone to serious damage from impacts. Turboprop and piston-powered aircraft are more maneuverable at lower speeds and altitudes, so they may be able to avoid strikes more easily.
Which aircraft parts are most vulnerable to bird strikes?
The most vulnerable parts of an aircraft during a bird strike are:
- Engines – Birds getting sucked into jet engines can destroy compressor and turbine blades. Engine failure is the most common result of bird strikes.
- Windshields – Bird impacts at high speeds can penetrate the windshield and injure flight crews.
- Wings and stabilizers – Impacts can dent and puncture holes in the thin metal skin of wings.
- Radomes – The plastic noses of aircraft that house weather radar can be cracked or damaged.
What types of birds cause the most strikes?
The most hazardous birds for aviation are large flocking species that are commonly found near airports at low altitudes such as:
- Gulls
- Waterfowl like geese and ducks
- Raptors like hawks and vultures
- Blackbirds and starlings
- Rock pigeons
Birds like geese and ducks are especially dangerous because they have high body densities that can inflict more damage. Flocks are more hazardous than individual birds.
What are the effects of a bird strike?
Bird strikes can have several adverse effects including:
- Structural damage – Dents, punctures, and holes in aircraft skin.
- Engine failure – Bird ingestion can destroy compressor and turbine blades.
- Penetration of flight deck – Birds penetrating the windshield and injuring pilots.
- Lost control – Damage to control surfaces or flight computers can cause loss of control.
- Crash landings – Forced emergency landings due to strikes resulting in aircraft damage or passenger injuries.
What are the most serious bird strike incidents?
Some of the most serious bird strike events in aviation history include:
- US Airways Flight 1549 (2009)- Captain Sully Sullenberger ditched an Airbus A320 into the Hudson River after losing both engines to goose strikes after takeoff from New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
- Ethiopian Airlines Flight 604 (1988)- A Boeing 737 crashed into the Indian Ocean after taking off from Bahar Dar Airport, killing 35 passengers after ingesting a flock of speckled pigeons.
- Ryanair Flight 4102 (2008)- An emergency landing in Rome after multiple geese were ingested resulted in a collapsed landing gear and skidding off the runway.
How can bird strikes be prevented?
Airports, airlines, and regulators take several precautions to reduce the risk of bird strikes including:
- Habitat modification – Clearing tall grass, removing standing water, and eliminating food sources around airports.
- Sonic deterrents – Broadcasting predator calls, noisemakers, or ultrasounds to frighten birds away from runways and flight paths.
- Falconry – Using trained hawks, eagles, and falcons to scare other birds out of airports.
- Netting hangers – Installing netting in hangers and above ponds to prevent nesting and roosting.
- Onboard detection – Using radar and lighting systems to detect birds near aircraft and avoid them.
How should pilots respond to bird strikes?
Pilots are trained to take the following actions in response to a bird strike:
- Maintain control – Fly the aircraft smoothly using proper technique to avoid exacerbating damage or losing control.
- Notify air traffic control – Declare an emergency and request assistance immediately.
- Run checklists – Check aircraft systems and follow emergency checklist procedures.
- Assess damage – Determine affected systems and ability to continue safe flight and landing.
- Divert or land ASAP – Take the first opportunity to land safely at an alternate airport if necessary.
How are aircraft designed to withstand bird strikes?
Aircraft are engineered to survive most bird strikes through design features like:
- Redundant systems – Duplicate critical components like hydraulics and flight controls.
- Engine placement – Underwing mounted engines for protection by wings and fuselage.
- Impact resistant windshields – Made of acrylic glass layers to prevent penetration.
- Leading edge slats – Slats reduce the radius of rounded wing edges to lessen impact forces.
- Wing and empennage strength – Use of strong alloy skins, spars, and ribs to withstand impacts.
All aircraft components must meet bird strike certification standards by showing they can withstand strikes under test conditions.
What should you do if you witness a bird strike?
If you witness a bird strike as an aircraft passenger or ground observer, follow these steps:
- Remain calm – Do not panic or raise alarm unnecessarily.
- Notify crew – Alert any flight crew or ground personnel immediately.
- Provide details – Give the time, location, height, bird type and size if possible.
- Be prepared – Follow all instructions from the crew and be ready for emergencies.
- Don’t speculate – Avoid spreading rumors or unconfirmed details.
Your observations could help aviation authorities identify safety issues and prevent future strikes.
Conclusion
Bird strikes present an ongoing challenge to aviation safety. While modern aircraft are engineered to withstand most impacts, collisions can still cause severe damage and crashes. Pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport ground crews must remain vigilant and take precautions to avoid encounters between birds and aircraft. Continued research and design improvements will help make aviation safer in the face of this threat from the sky.
