BIRD STRIKES Be alert and aware! Know the risks! Avoid & Survive!

1. BIRD STRIKESBe alert and aware!Know the risks!Avoid & Survive! Authored by the Minnasota Wing & Florida Wing BASH Team Modified by Lt Colonel Fred BlundellTX-129th Fort Worth Senior Squadron For Local Training Rev 7.0 11-Jan-2014 Click mouse button to advance screen

2. This Training Slide Show is a project undertaken by Lt Colonel Fred Blundell of the TX-129 Fort Worth Senior Squadron, Fort Worth, TX for local use to assist those CAP Members interested in advancing their skills. The information contained herein is for CAP Member’s personal use and is not intended to replace or be a substitute for any of the CAP National Training Programs. Users should review the presentation’s Revision Number at the end of each file name to ensure that they have the most current publication.

3. The ObjectivesOf This Training • Improve your awareness of the issue of bird strikes • Improve your understanding of risk factors • Reduce the likelihood of bird strikes Click mouse button to advance screen

4. This presentation is based on documents prepared by the FAA and in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The emergency forced landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River on 15 January 2009 after Canada geese were ingested in both engines of the Airbus 320 dramatically demonstrated to the public that bird strikes are a serious aviation safety issue. For more detailed data, see the above report on the: http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/wildlife/downloads/BASH90-09.pdf website.

5. BASH Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard

6. BASH TEAM Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Team Promote the reporting of bird and other wildlife strikes to the appropriate national authority. You’re already on the team!

7. Some Facts • Nationally Bird Strikes are Under-Reported by an estimated 80%! • Reporting is important, it brings the problem to light. Use FAA Form 5200-7 and online CAPF 78 • Bird Strikes are a CAP Safety Mishap

8. More Facts • FAA - the number of strikes per 10,000 flights tripled from 0.527 to 1.751 between 1990 and 2007 • 80% occurred at less than 1000 ft. AGL • Two pound seagull at 120 mph = 4,800 lbs

9. Some Myths • Myth - Bird strikes are rare. • Fact – Over 89,000 bird strikes were reported to the FAA from 1990 to 2007, a mere 20% of the number that likely occurred.

10. Some Myths • Myth – Bird strikes are no more a problem then they were 20 - 30 years ago. • Fact – Because of outstanding wildlife and environmental programs in North America populations of birds have increased dramatically since the 1970s.

11. Some Myths • Myth - Nothing can be done to keep birds away from airports. • Fact – There are effective techniques: Making the environment unattractive for birds i.e. reducing sources of “food and lodging” Scaring birds with loud noises Last resort…reducing the bird population

12. Some Myths • Myth - It is illegal to kill birds to protect aircraft. • Fact – In North America non-native species such as pigeons and starlings are not federally protected. Ducks, geese, gulls and heron require a permit for the airport authority to reduce their numbers.

13. Some Myths • Myth – If birds are a problem at an airport, killing them all would eliminate the problem. • Fact – In all ecosystems each plant or animal species plays an important role. Eliminating any one problem species will only lead to some other species taking its place. A combination of bird control measures which take into account habitat management is a superior long-term solution.

14. Some Myths • Bird strikes are a concern only to those who fly. • Fact - Because bird strikes can lead to aircraft accidents, bird strikes can have a direct effect on both the families and friends of potential victims both in the aircraft and on the ground.

15. Some Myths • Myth - Bird strikes never occur at high altitudes. • Fact – It is true that most strikes occur in the airport environment. About 41% of reported strikes with civil aircraft in USA occur while the aircraft is on the ground during take-off or landing.

16. Some Myths • Myth - Bird strikes never occur at high altitudes, continued… • Fact - Over 1,300 bird strikes involving civil aircraft at heights above 5,000 feet AGL were reported from 1990-2003. • Highest reported bird strike …A 747 struck a large bird over the South African coast at 37,000 feet. Highest observed 54,000 feet.

17. Some Myths • Myth - Bird strikes never occur at high altitudes, continued… • Fact – Migrating geese have been reported above the summit of Mt. Everest (29,035 ft.) and typically cross the Himalayas at altitudes above 30,000 feet.

18. What it’s like… • C-172 pilot reports strike comes “with explosive suddenness… • windshield shatters, air rushes in, door blows open… • noise level rises, drag increases, airspeed and altitude are lost”

19. Avoiding Bird Strikes • Avoid low altitude flight as much as possible to reduce the risk of a strike. • Do not fly below flocks of birds. They tend to dive. • Be aware of migratory flyways. • Dawn and dusk – highest probability. • Caution when flying near landfills.

20. Avoiding Bird Strikes • Turn strobes on and landing lights to pulse or on. • Slow down - more reaction time, lessen the impact • Protect your eyes and head if a strike is imminent

21. If a collision occurs Fly the airplane Assess the damage Fly the airplane Decide if you can make it to an airport Fly the airplane Declare an emergency Fly the airplane

22. If a collision occurs • Divert to the nearest airport and check for damage. • There are likely to be aerodynamic modifications that don’t have FAA approval. • Contact the FRO ASAP • CAPR 62-2 Mishap Reporting and Investigation applies.

23. What we can do • Be aware – as you scan look for birds as well as other aircraft. • Learn more, the internet has information about bird habits, an example: Daily bird activity is lowest at mid-day. “Loafing” gulls like to congregate in numbers for safety and airports offer them the room. They fly to and from food sources and to their nesting sites later in the day. Watch out for them…expect to see them. This data from www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/

24. What we can do • Mission Briefings must include best known info on bird hazards. • Ground crews can help air crews by reporting bird activity in the search area. • Make bird awareness a personal flying habit. • Report all bird strikes to CAP and the FAA. • Share your “bird” experiences with others

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32. This was US Airways flight 1549 Airbus 320 that landed in the Hudson due to loss of engine power from bird ingestion in both engines. Some persons in this photo actually stopped and grabbed their bags from the overhead bins during the evacuation. Was there anything in the luggage that was worth your life? Click mouse button to advance screen

33. Bird strike reports have increased alarmingly over the last 20 years. Click mouse button to advance screen

34. The Facts! Many populations of wildlife species commonly involved in strikes have increased markedly in the last few decades and adapted to living in urban environments, including airports. Thirteen of the 14 bird species in North America with mean body masses greater than 8 lbs have shown significant population increases over the past three decades. The number of strikes annually reported more than quintupled from 1,759 in 1990 to 9,474 in 2009. Click mouse button to advance screen

35. Canada Goose Population Increase Explosive growth of the Canada goose population in the U.S. Click mouse button to advance screen

36. The Statistics 51% of the annual total. Bird strikes can occur anytime, but the prime months are July through October. Click mouse button to advance screen

37. The Statistics Since most flights occur during the day, more bird strikes occur then. However, birds do also fly at night. Click mouse button to advance screen

38. The Statistics The phases of flight during which the vast majority of bird strikes occur is during takeoff and climb out, and during approach and landing. Click mouse button to advance screen

39. The Statistics The highest number of bird strikes occur below 100 AGL, and then another high grouping appears in the 900 to 4000 foot AGL range. Click mouse button to advance screen

40. It always pays to keep your eyes outside and looking for any kind of airborne traffic. Click mouse button to advance screen

41. Although it seems the more fancy panel equipment we get, the more we focus inside. This panel is much less fancy after a bird strike. Click mouse button to advance screen

42. BIRD STRIKE AVOIDANCE The U.S. Air Force Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Team and the FAA offer this guidance for avoiding and/or dealing with bird strikes: Avoid low altitude flight as much as feasible to reduce the risk of a strike. Strikes are most likely in July, August, September, and October - particularly in migratory flyways. These tend to be the larger birds. Keep a lookout, just as you would for other flying objects. Turn on landing or recognition lights. This helps birds see oncoming aircraft. Click mouse button to advance screen

43. Plan to climb. Birds almost invariably dive away, but there are exceptions. • Slow down. This will allow birds more time to get out of your way and will lessen the impact force if you do hit one. • If a collision seems likely, duck below the glare shield to avoid being hit by the bird and flying Plexiglas. Advise passengers to do the same. Protect your eyes and head. Click mouse button to advance screen

44. NOW WHAT? • If a collision occurs, fly the aircraft first! Assess the damage and decide whether you can make it to an airport or you should make an off-airport landing. • Declare an emergency- it doesn't cost anything. • Even if no damage is visible, divert to the nearest airport and have a mechanic look at the airplane.There are likely to be some aerodynamic modifications that do not have FAA approval. Click mouse button to advance screen

45. Please be sure to use the Avian Hazard Advisory System to get general information updates about Avian activity in areas near you. This is available on www.capmembers.comunder the Safety Tab. Click to the next page for a look at the webpage entry screen.

46. A product of the Air Force Safety center, this is a public use webpage accessible at www.capmembers.com.

47. SUMMARY Bird strikes occur more often in the late summer/ autumn season. Birds are more likely to be struck during the landing (i.e., descent, approach or landing roll) phase of flight compared to take-off and climb. 72% of the time bird strikes occur below 500 feet AGL. 92% of the bird strikes occur at or below 3,000 feet AGL. Less than 2 percent of bird strikes occur above 10,000 feet AGL. Flying high and maintaining that altitude during cruise is good ORM.

48. Questions? Always Think Safety! Click mouse button to advance screen