Birdstrikes continue to be a problem for aviation worldwide,
costing approximately $US3 billion annually. Increasingly, funds
are being directed towards research which focuses on bird control
and avoidance methods. Two such methods which are proving to be
successful, are the use of hand held laser devices to scare birds
from the airport environment, and the use of the US developed Avian
Hazard Advisory System (AHAS), which allows aircraft to avoid
high-risk birdstrike areas. This study investigated the Australian
birdstrike data for the period 1991 to 2001. Although limited, the
available data was able to be used to investigate birdstrike rates,
species involvement and hazard potentials, as well as providing a
time of day and phase of flight analysis. Additionally, the current
study highlights the magnitude of some of the impact forces exerted
during a birdstrike. The data suggest that there has been a
significant increase in the rate of birdstrikes being recorded in
Australia since 1992 (most notably between 1998 and 2001).