Bird Hazards to Aircraft
Departure vs. Arrival
Approach:
7.9 Nautical Miles
Departure:
1.5 Nautical Miles
Approaching planes spend the most time in bird zones (Below 3000 ft.)
Most bird strikes happen outside the range of airport countermeasures.
Wildlife Strikes
Takeoff Run
9,931 Bird strikes
Climb
9,000 Bird strikes
Descent
1,816 Bird strikes
Approach
18,883 Bird strikes
Landing Roll
8,532 Bird strikes
The largest number of strikes occur in the approach phase of flight.
Wildlife strikes to civil aircraft in the United States 1990-2005
Flying in the Bird Zone
500 ft.
28,806 Bird Strikes 1,023 (3.6%) causing substantial damage
3,500 ft.
7,469 Bird Strikes 445 (6%) causing substantial damage
3,500+ ft.
2,686 Bird Strikes 85 (3.2%) causing substantial damage
Only 5% of reported strikes with civil aircraft causing substantial damage above 3,500 ft. AGL. Dolbeer’s Rule: Above 500 ft. AGL, bird strikes decline by 32% every 1000 ft.
Cleary, E.C., R.A. Dolbeer, and S.E. Wright, 2003. Wildlife strikes to civil aircraft in the United States, 1990-2002.
