This chapter expresses statistics for different aspects of bird strikes and bird species. It answers the three normally asked queries; what, when, and where.What is a bird strike? What are the dangerous birds? What are the critical sites in an aerodrome? What is the critical flight phase? What is the critical altitude above ground for most strikes? When do bird strikes take place during the day and during the year? Where do most bird strikes hit an aircraft?

    This chapter looks at the two aircraft categories – namely fixed wing and rotary wing. For each category, civilian and military aircraft are discussed. Only bird strike accidents/incidents having no fatalities are discussed in this chapter as Chapter 4 will handle fatal accidents.

    Fixed‐wing civil aircraft are the first reviewed. The types of bird species involved in bird strike and the classification of birds based on critical sites in an aerodrome are both identified. The critical parts/modules frequently struck by birds of aircraft powered by turbine‐based engines (turbojet and turbofan) and shaft‐based engines (piston and turboprop) are reviewed, based on US, European, and Russian statistics. Most bird strikes occur at low altitude (less than 3000 ft). Empirical relations for the number of reported bird strikes for commercial and general aviation aircraft versus altitude (based on databases from the FAA) are presented. Annual and monthly accidents over the last 100 years are discussed. The critical time of day is also identified.

    Bird strikes at different areas of the globe, including North America, UK, Russia, and Asia‐ Pacific regions are described. Details for dangerous bird species in North America and their escalating populations are also given.

    Military aircraft statistics are discussed next; however, fewer publications are available. Catastrophic accidents for different categories of military aircraft (fighter, bomber, etc.) are defined. The critical parts of these aircraft that are frequently impacted are stated. Annual and monthly statistics for bird strikes are given. Statistics for birds strike by flight phase and distance from base are also given.

    Civil and military helicopters are examined. Annual and monthly statistics for bird strikes with helicopters in the period 1990–2013 are reviewed. The windshield is the most critical part.

    Finally, the number of birds killed annually due to collisions with aircraft are identified. The FAA assumes that at least one bird is killed at each bird strike incident. However, in many cases, several birds are killed in each incident. For example, a strike of F16 military aircraft with a flock of birds resulted in killed 40 birds.


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    Title :

    Statistics for Different Aspects of Bird Strikes


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2019-07-29


    Size :

    52 pages




    Type of media :

    Article/Chapter (Book)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





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