The latest breakdown of aviation wildlife strikes around Australia shows the importance of timely and thorough reporting to the ATSB, with 2017 showing the highest number on record.
Between 2008 and 2017, there were 16,626 confirmed birdstrikes reported to the ATSB. The number of reported birdstrikes has increased in recent years, with 2017 having the highest on record with 1,921.
Despite being a high frequency occurrence, birdstrikes rarely result in aircraft damage or injuries.
The number of birdstrikes involving a bird ingested into an engine in high-capacity air transport operations has risen in recent years with about one in ten birdstrikes for turbofan aircraft involving a bird ingested into an engine. Additionally, over the ten-year reporting period, there have been 11 occurrences involving one or more birds ingested into two engines of turbofan-powered aircraft.
The number of reported birdstrikes has increased in recent years…
Australian aviation wildlife strike statistics provide a reminder to aircraft and aerodrome operators to be aware of the hazards posed to aircraft by birds and non-flying animals. The growth of reporting to the ATSB over the last 10 years has helped to understand better the nature of birdstrikes, and what and where the major safety risks lie. The more detailed the information that is provided to the ATSB, the more accurate and useful reports like this one will be.
For the first time, Australian national wildlife strike data is available via an interactive web tool, allowing users to focus in, and get the information most important to their operations.
Read the research report, AR-2018-035: Australian aviation wildlife strike statistics 2008–2017