QUESTION: I am learning to fly in a place where there are lots of bald eagles around. I’ve seen a few in the air and I worry about hitting them. What happens if I hit an eagle? The guys at the airport told me you go to prison and lose your pilot certificate—is this true?
Answer: No, you do not lose your certificate or go to prison for an accidental midair with a bald eagle—or any other bird.
You should, however, report the incident to the state fish and game department. They will want to know the place, date, and time of the incident, because one of the things they do is track animal migration patterns.
If the animal encounter happens when you are in the traffic pattern, report it to the airport manager. Part of their job is keeping track of wildlife on the airport, and a sudden increase in a certain type of animal, such as deer or elk, could mean there is a hole in the fence, which would impact the airport’s security.
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