Bird Strike Incidents Made Public By FAA
Posted by
Chrissie ColeApril 24, 2009 10:18 AM
Airplane collisions with birds or other animals have more than doubled at 13 major U.S. airports in the last decade, according to a newly released information by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA list of wildlife strikes, details more than 89,000 incidents since 1990, costing 11 people their lives. Most incidents were bird strikes, but deer and other animals have been hit on runways, too.
The two major airports with the most recorded bird strikes since 1990 was JFK International in New York and Sacramento International in California. Both airports sit adjacent to farmland and wetlands that attract birds.
The FAA withdrew its proposal to protect the data after determining the it will not jeopardize aviation safety.
Portions of the FAA’s Bird Strike database have been publicly available since the information was first collected in 1990, but the public will now be able to access all of the database’s fields.
Over the next few months the FAA will be make improvements to the database so the information can be easily downloaded.
Pressure to release the information came after birds took out both engines aboard US Air Flight 1549 over the Hudson River in January that resulted in a safe landing and no loss of life. #