A: There have been over 121,000 (Civil and USAF) wildlife strikes between 1990 and 2010.
A: Most bird strikes occur between the months of July and October.
A: Most bird strikes occur during daylight hours.
A: Most bird strikes occur during the approach and landing roll.
A: 92% of the bird strikes occur at or below 3,000 ft AGL (above ground level).
A: Since 1990, there have been a total of 23 fatalities attributed to wildlife strikes with US civil aircraft.
A: Since 1990, there have been a total of 257 injuries resulting from wildlife strikes.
A: On October 4, 1960, Eastern Air Lines Flight 375 was struck by a flock of European starlings during take off. All four engines were damaged and the aircraft crashed in the Boston harbor. There were 62 fatalities. This incident occurred prior to the creation of the FAA Wildlife Strike Database.
A: Since 1990, there have been 54 civil aircraft either destroyed or damaged beyond repair.
A: Aircraft engines account for 32% of all damaged components. They are the component most frequently damaged by bird strikes.
A: The reported costs average $123 million per year but when costs are estimated based on 80% of strikes that were not reported the cost could be as high as $614 million per year.
A: Most bird strikes are reported by pilots and airport personnel. For additional information please visit: How are bird strikes reported?
A: Please watch the newly released instructional video to learn more about collecting wildlife remains for identification.
A: The first reported bird strike was by Orville Wright in 1905.
A: Many remains are identified by trained wildlife biologists working at the airports. The Smithsonian Institution's Feather Identification Laboratory is able to identify a bird species from its remains. Depending on the condition of the remains, birds can be identified based on physical characteristics, feather fragments, and/or DNA analysis. For additional information please visit: How are the bird-remains identified?
A: Not all remains are saved or sent to the Smithsonian for identification. From 1990-2008, 28% of the remains from reported strikes were identified to the species level. In 2008, 45% of the remains from reported strikes were identified to the species level.
A: Yes. While 97.5% of all strikes involve birds, strikes with other animals such as deer, coyotes, turtles, skunks, and alligators have also been reported.
A: Gulls are the most common type of bird to strike aircraft. They account for 17% of the birds identified in bird strikes. Doves and Pigeons are the second most common. They account for 15% of the birds identified in bird strikes.
A: Airports reduce the risk of bird strikes though wildlife management and control programs. These programs include changes to the surrounding habitat at the airport and methods to scare birds away.
Page Last Modified: 05/25/12 10:08 EDT
This page can be viewed online at: http://www.faa.gov/airports/airport_safety/wildlife/faq/