FAA Seeks Public Comment on Wildlife Strikes

The proposed advisory circular reduces the minimum acceptable size for reporting animal collisions.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 11:37 AM ET

Verified

When it comes to bird strikes, authorities want to know what kind of animal was hit and where the collision took place, including the altitude. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The article uses a pilot's encounter with a red-tailed hawk to illustrate the common questions and complexities pilots face after a wildlife-aircraft strike.
The FAA is seeking public comment on Draft Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5200-32C, which aims to explain the importance, process, and data utilization of reporting wildlife aircraft strikes.
Proposed updates to the AC include lowering the minimum size for reportable strikes (e.g., from 1 kilogram to 1 pound), new considerations for reporting multiple small terrestrial animals, and a transition to electronic-only reporting methods.
The FAA collects detailed information from strike reports, such as animal type, altitude, and location, to evaluate risks, track wildlife migratory patterns, and enhance aviation safety.

See a mistake? Contact us.

“Uh-oh!”

This is not a phrase you want to hear in an airplane, but that was what the learner said when we encountered the red-tailed hawk on downwind. Before myself or the learner could react, the bird, flapping wildly and heading toward us belly first, struck the Cessna 172 on the left side of the windscreen where it meets the wing. A shudder went through the airplane as the bird—or what was left of it—tumbled over the aircraft.