Why Should I Report a Bird Strike in the FAA Database?

Damage from a wild turkey at Dulles International 2002 (FAA)

One of the reasons why all bird strikes are should be reported in the FAA Strike Database whether or not they cause damage to the aircraft and whatever bird/wildlife species was involved, is that experience of the analysis of bird remains collected after strikes by experts has shown that the species reported as involved are frequently incorrect.  Other reasons include:

• Proper Identification – In order to deal with a problem, you need to know who or what you are dealing with. Also, it is required by the FAA to report and record all bird strikes on your airfield.


• Immediate Threats – After you have identified your SNARGE you can put yourself in a position to respond to any immediate threats to your aircraft safety. You may deal with a migration of a certain species or an invasive species that may need specific tactics.


• Assess Future Risk – Sometimes a bird strike may be a one off or an isolated incident however It may also lead to an update in your Wildlife Hazard Management Plan and implementation of new strategies to avoid bird strikes in the future.

Incidents where a bird strike was narrowly avoided, perhaps by flight crew being forced to take evasive action to keep away from birds, or of observed significant bird activity which might have constituted a direct hazard in slightly different circumstances, should be reported on a standard safety reporting form.

The information that is commonly sought in a bird strike report includes:

• - General information (flight number or registration, aircraft, and engine type)
• - Location and time, (geographic location or airport/runway used, time, IAS and height (AGL) during the occurrence, light conditions: day, night, twilight)
  
  
•  - Flight parameters - Altitude or height agl; IAS
  
  
•  - Phase of flight (take-off roll, initial climb, climb, cruise, descent, approach, landing roll)
  
  
•  - Part(s) of aircraft struck and (if) damaged (engine number, radome, windshield, landing gear, fuselage, tail, etc.)
  
  
•  - Effects on flight (rejected take off, emergency/precautionary landing, engine(s) shut down and other consequent effects)
  
  
•  - Relevant meteorological conditions (visibility, cloud cover, precipitation)
  
  
• - Species information (exact species or species group if known)
  
  
• - Number of birds seen, and number struck
  
  
• - Size of birds - small, medium, and large if not identified to species or species group)
  
  
• - Prior warning of bird activity by RTF/ATIS/NOTAM/BIRDTAM
  
  
• - Any other relevant information and remarks regarding the occurrence
  
  

Since roughly 90% of all strikes with a known location occur on or in the vicinity of an airport, the issue impacts not only on aircraft operators but also on the operational safety of airports. The collection of data on bird strikes is aimed at facilitating the detection of locations where there is a high probability of a significant bird strike hazard and can help to define the nature of the problem. Data on bird strikes (and other wildlife strikes) is essential for bird and wildlife management on and around airports. This information is also useful to aircraft fuselage and engine manufacturers, assisting them in the design of bird strike resistant airframe structures and engines. That is why bird strike reports of sufficient quality collected, analyzed, and finally submitted to ICAO by States are of great value at national, regional, and global level.

Care must be exercised while interpreting the data collected. For example, an airport with an increasing rate of bird strikes is not necessarily becoming a riskier location. The total number of strikes at an airport, taken in isolation, is not a good indicator of risk; examination of the data by species struck and the distinguishing of multiple from single strikes is critical. If an increase in recorded strikes is attributable to an increase in incidents caused by encounters with single small birds, whereas the number of strikes involving large bird species and/or flocks of birds is falling, then this may well be indicative of both better bird control and better reporting of strikes.

For more information on Strike Reporting or how to report a strike please fill out the fields below and someone from Loomacres Wildlife Management will contact you. 

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