Birdstrike Hazard Continues to Grow

Birdstrike rates continue to grow, in Australia and around the world.  There can be little doubt that climate change is one of the artifacts causing this growth, along with increasing numbers of airline flights and human population growth.

The crash landing of an Airbus A320 in the Hudson River, New York City, in 2009, is a graphic illustration of what can happen in a serious birdstrike event.  Fortunately no lives were lost but the aeroplane itself was a complete write-off.  Both engines on the aircraft were seriously damaged, to the point where they failed.

Bird Hazards Becoming More Hazardous

The rate of birstrikes to aircraft continues to grow and much of the growth can be put down to global warming.  The way birds are reacting to global warming is a major contributor to the problem.  It seems that smaller species are becoming less common while larger species are becoming more common.  Larger birds that form dense flocks are the most risky for aircraft.  In Australia the risky species are:

• Silver Gulls (Sydney)
• Galahs (Adelaide)
• Black Kites (most inland airports)
• Magpies (Canberra)
• Flying foxes (not birds but just as risky given size and flock formation).

About 20 years ago Sydney Airport was reporting around 500 birdstrikes per year.  More recently the number is approaching 1,000 per year however reporting has become less reliable due to administrative changes made by individual airports and by Airservices Australia.  Air Traffic Services personnel are no longer required to report birdstrikes.

 

Given that large birds that form flocks are generally the more dangerous birds species it is interesting to note that the ponds near Sydney Airport support a permanent population of Australian Pelicans and there has never been a birdstrike involving pelicans at Sydney Airport.  It appears that these birds are able to stay clear of aircraft flight paths all the time.  Most birdstrikes at Sydney Airport involve Silver Gulls.

 

While the list of bird species provided above is short almost every species of bird in Australia has been involved in birdstrikes at some time.

Bird Hazards to Aircraft - Introduction

A collision between a bird and an aeroplane is called a birdstrike. Some people use the term bird strike but it means the same thing. Most birdstrikes, more than 90%, occur in the first 1000' above the ground. In Australia about 10% of birdstrikes cause damage to the aeroplane involved. Of the 10% only about 5% - 10% cause serious damage.

All parts of an aeroplane are subject to damage by birdstrike - engines, windscreens, fuselage skins, undercarriage, wings, empennage.

On rare occasions birdstrikes have caused airliners to crash. Other than crashes, birdstrikes are a very expensive problem for airlines and aerodrome owners and operators.

The highest birdstike ever recorded occurred in Africa at 37,000', however since it occured near a thnderstorm it is probable that the bird involved was already dead and had been carried to the altitude by the storm. The highest recorded birdstrike in Australia occurred at 14,000' near Brisbane. It probably involved a Dollar Bird. The only actual evidence of a birdstrike on the aeroplane, a Fokker F27, was a blood stain. The assumption that the bird was probably a Dollar Bird was based on the altitude, the time of year, the size of the bloodstain and the fact that only a single bird was reported by the aircrew.

We invite anyone with an interest in aviation to contribute their comments to this blog. We are especially interested in comments from pilots and passengers who have experienced a birdstrike and aircraft engineers who have seen the results of serious birdstrikes.