*Updated strike statistics from 1990-2011; 115,000 wildlife strikes reported, in which 97% involved birds, 2% involved terrestrial mammals, and <1% involved flying mammals and reptiles.
*Strike reporting has steadily increased over the last two decades; however, strike reporting is not consistent across all stake holders in the National Airspace System.
*There is a large disparity between reporting rates of large 14 CFR Part 139 airports and NPIAS GA airports. Within Part 139 airports, an additional separation in strike reporting exists between large airports with established wildlife management plans and ones that do not.
*The FAA feels that improvements can be made in the quantity and quality of strike reporting, in which the quality of data can be improved by providing as much information as possible when submitting strike reports.
*The FAA highlights the importance of submitting wildlife strikes that are found within the separation distances described in sections 1-2 and 1-3 of AC 150/5200-33, Hazardous Attractants On or Near Airports.
*The new AC provides a more in depth description on strike reporting. All birds, bats, terrestrial mammals (larger than 1 kg, and not to include rats, mice, voles, etc.) and reptiles (larger than 1 kg) that are involved in an aircraft strike are to be reported.
*The FAA has updated the definition of when a strike has occurred. The new definition includes that anyone that has witnessed any strike with an aircraft; when evidence or damage from a strike has been identified; when remains are found within: (1) within 250 feet of a runway centerline or within 1,000 feet of a runway end and (2) on a taxiway or anywhere else on and off the airport that has reason to believe was the result of a strike; and the presence of bird or wildlife had a significant negative effect on a flight.
*Bird identification steps provided by the new AC 150/5200-32B follow similar steps as the older AC 150/5200-32A; however, DNA analysis is an additional method that is now included to further identify unknown wildlife that have been involved in a strike. |