Wildlife Is a Growing Threat to GA Pilots in the Summer

Reported strikes have increased greatly in recent years, so how can you prevent one?

Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 09:06 AM ET

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According to the FAA, research indicates that mounting a UV LED light on landing gear on the exterior of the aircraft could potentially stop bird strikes before they occur. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Wildlife strikes are a growing and costly problem for aviation, increasing significantly since 1990 to 16,000 strikes in 2018, primarily affecting piston aircraft at lower altitudes and during summer months.
Factors contributing to this rise include expanding wildlife populations, increased air traffic, and quieter aircraft, leading the FAA and USDA to extensively collaborate on data collection and scientific risk mitigation.
Pilots can mitigate strike risks by utilizing tools like the Avian Hazard Advisory System (AHAS), reporting wildlife to ATC, and implementing specific flight procedures such as maintaining slower speeds below 10,000 feet and maximizing climb rates.
Despite preventative measures, pilots must also be prepared with emergency procedures to effectively respond to unavoidable wildlife strikes.

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As we enter the summer months, one thing pilots increasingly have to contend with is the risk of hitting wildlife—aside from bad weather and long traffic lines.

Here’s some startling insight: the FAA says the number of wildlife strikes reported per year increased steadily from about 1,800 in 1990 to 16,000 in 2018. That’s a seven-fold increase, or as many as 40 strikes a day. A total of 58 percent of those strikes occurred during May and July.