DID YOU KNOW how often bird strikes occur

[BlackhawkSP]

Originally Posted by gmcjetpilot

I don't know why everyone celebrates Captain Sully Sullenberger as a hero pilot. A good pilot would have avoided them... KIDDING. I have hit birds with a 737 twice. Once bounced off fuselage just below side cockpit windscreen. The other went into the engine and you could smell it. The engine ate it no problem.

Seen pictures of the aftermath of birds on GA planes and transports. The first eye opener was when I was new young pilot, and one of the rental Cherokees had a strike in the windscreen and hurt the pilot. I believe he had eye damage. Military jets have been taken out by bird strikes and of course miracle in the Hudson.

This is why I worry about high speed passes down low. If you hit a bird it will hurt. One thing birds will tend to turn 180 and dive if you fly up on them. I had one do that and it flashed by. Birds get more scarce higher up but there are plenty of them up as high as 5 to 10 thousand. If you do some research you will find the types of birds and migratory routes and seasons for your area.

The best bird experience was going over a Cascade mountain pass fairly high up, in a Piper Tomahawk (which has good viability). I flew by an Eagle circling my altitude several 100 feet away, and as I flew by it looked at me (seriously). I thought it might be saying, I don't need no stinking pilot certificate and plane, God gave me my wings. Ha ha seriously it happened (not the bird talk but he did eyeball me). Being a predator the Eagle did not seem concerned about the T-hawk trucking by.

That report is interesting. In the conclusion:
"Long-term goals include the integration of automated avian detection technologies (e.g. avian radar)
and bird migration forecasting into airspace management. The development of aircraft lighting systems
to enhance detection and avoidance by birds is also needed as part of an integrated program."

I am assuming wig wag lights are a bonus.

I've had a few encounters with eagles. Once while flying a bunch of Army Rangers in the back of a Blackhawk helicopter, we came up on a Bald Eagle in northern Michigan. I started flying formation off of him to hopefully scare him off of "our" range/training area (there were other aircraft coming after me). He just looked over his shoulder at us, as if to say "dude, this is my sky". Once the guys in back saw this magnificent specimen, and alerted everyone in back I could hear them cheering over the noise of the aircraft. It looked awesome.

I've hit many birds in the day, and even bats at night while nap of the earth (NOE) flying Night Vision Goggles. Once while on a marihuana eradication mission, I had a wild turkey flush up and almost hit him!! Critters are everywhere :-).

[dlloyd3]

According to the FAA, there were 12,728 reported bird strikes by civil aircraft in 2016. This is up from 1,758 in 1990. Over a 27 year study, the FAA shows a 724% increase in bird strikes. That?s crazy! The interesting thing is that strikes with damage is significantly lower than it was back in 1990.

I wonder if there is some flaw in this thinking. I would expect little change in the actual number of bird strikes over the last 27 years. I would expect a huge difference in reported strikes due to today's ease of reporting via the internet. Don't think the amount of damage is any different either. Likely a matter of back in 1990, no damage, no report. Bend metal or break a windshield, there would be an insurance claim and report.

I had several bird strikes in the 80's but no damage and no report. One was at night, level at 6000. That caused me to sit up straight!

[Infidel]

I'm still stuck on the reptile confusion posted earlier and in tune with Darwin, I think I understand.

There's no doubt birds pose a risk. Especially birds of prey/raptors & buzzards, which are protected species with minimal predators, and with the declining hunting culture-ducks & geese.

Now, if we can figure out a way to make them as predictable and obvious as a Mylar balloon, we could stare at our glass panels a little longer.

[thompsonbr87]

Originally Posted by David Z

I hit a bat in the work plane a few days ago. About a year ago, one of my co-workers took a coyote in the main landing gear.

The best I ever heard was a plane under-flew an eagle carrying a fish. Bird got scared, dropped the fish right onto the plane!

I can only imagine the look on the insurance agents face when he called in a claim for a fish strike!

[N941WR]

I suspect the reason for the increase in the number of bird strikes is because since 1990 the internet has made reporting them easier.

[rbibb]

I’ve had two. Both small species of undetermined nature as the evidence was pretty much gone save a smattering of blood and feather fragments.

One on an ILS approach into Albany at night. Loud bang got my undivided attention and ended in uneventful landing once I determined all was well in the Mooney I was flying. Probably 1000 to 1500 AGL IIRC. Didn’t even know what had happened until leaving the next morning when ramp guy pointed out the blood splatter right below left cowl inlet. No damage just an ugly mess. Note this bird came through the 3 bladed prop and did not get hit by a blade.

Second was in RV4 flying at cruise about 2500 AGL under an overcast day. Hit dead center on the canopy right in front of my face. I about soiled myself. But the bird was small, the canopy slope acute, and the poor thing never knew what hit him as he glanced upward much the worse for wear. I did see it about 300 ms before impact and flinched before I heard a loud bang. Canopy survived unscathed.

I didn’t report either. Never occurred to me to do so.

[thinkn9a]

My encounters with eagles would cast the fish story in a different light......

I think he was just jettisoning external / heavy ordnance, (oh, by the way on target) ...so he could have max maneuverability to set up for gun/ talons run if necessary. 😉

Seriously,... from my couple encounters the voice over goes something like,... Hey buddy,..what are you doing in MY airspace,..buzz off,..

[sblack]

Sulley hit Canadian Geese. So clearly this is more of an immigration problem. There needs to be a wall on the northern border. Preferably a really really high one.

[jestes]

Originally Posted by RyanS

Leah,

After a bird strike, with minor damage of say less than $500 in repairs paid out by the insurance company, would it be typical to see a premium increase in future renewals?

Hi Ryan,

I will chime in for Leah, typically for a payout that small you will not see a premium increase.

[David Paule]

Got lots of time in my C180 but haven't flown the RV-3B yet. The C180 is about 20% to 25% slower than the RV-3B will be. It's had zero actual strikes but I've seen plenty of birds do evasive maneuvers to avoid it.

One golden eagle even dove on me one day from above, going faster than I was. It got in front of my right wing, unfurled, had a look, and dove out of the way.

Dave