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Abstract
Wildlife Hazard Management Plans at civil airports in the United States cannot directly address threats posed by birds moving through aircraft climb and approach paths unrelated to nearby bird-attractant habitats such as landfills. As an iconic example, an Airbus 320 departing LaGuardia Airport (New York, USA) on January 15, 2009, struck a flock of migratory Canada geese (Branta canadensis) 8 km out at 884 m above ground level (AGL) that resulted in a water landing now known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” We documented 1,841 and 458 strikes from 2009 to 2023 involving large (≥1.8 kg) and medium (1.1–1.7 kg) birds, respectively, and transport civil aircraft during climb or approach at ≥152 m AGL at Part 139-certificated airports, USA. This included 111 strikes involving multiple large birds that caused engine damage. The size of these birds exceeds certification standards for most aircraft components. The mitigation of strikes with large and medium birds during climb and approach will require a paradigm shift from managing birds to managing aircraft. Bird Detecting and Avoidance Radar (BDAR) focused on departure and arrival airspaces integrated with Air Traffic Control and the cockpit is a potential means of preventing these off-airport strikes. The process with BDAR would be akin to what was achieved with Terminal Doppler Weather Radar 30 years ago to provide real-time wind shear warnings. Enhanced aircraft lighting also may help birds detect and avoid aircraft. The alternative is the status quo—a continuation of these presently non-mitigated off-airport bird strikes, some of which may not have “miraculous” endings.
Recommended Citation
Dolbeer, Richard A. and Begier, Michael J.
(2025)
"Bird Strikes During Climb and Approach: A Need for Innovative Management Strategies,"
Human–Wildlife Interactions: Vol. 19:
Iss.
1, Article 13.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26077/n3c0-1p74
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol19/iss1/13
