Reported birdstrikes
2012-2016
1
Disclaimer
Note on interpretation of UK Birdstrike Data
The CAA's view is that the volume of birdstrikes reported at a particular airport or
aerodrome does not imply greater hazard.
Users should exercise caution in forming any conclusion or opinion based on
quantitative data alone.
The CAA disclaims all responsibility for any interpretation which might be made by
others in receipt of this birdstrike data
2
Reported birdstrikes
Analysis parameters and caveats
Occurrences reported in the UK, including the following locations: Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey.
Includes voluntary and mandatory occurrence reports.
Multiple operation types included (commercial, non-commercial, aerial work, general aviation).
Excludes off-shore helicopter operations.
Multiple aircraft types included (fixed-wing powered and non-powered aircraft, rotorcraft, microlights).
Focused on bird species (when the information was available, other wildlife species were excluded).
Analysis period: 01-Jan-2012 to 31-Dec-2016 (Five-year period).
Considers:
Confirmed birdstrikes: collision between a bird/wildlife and an aircraft for which evidence, in the form
of a carcass, or other remains, is found on the ground; or damage and/or other evidence is found on
the aircraft.
Unconfirmed birdstrikes: collision between a bird/wildlife and an aircraft for which no physical
evidence is found (i.e. no damage to the aircraft is evident upon inspection, and no bird remains,
carcass or blood smears are evident on the airframe).
Significant Events (Near misses): occurrence where the presence of birds/wildlife in the air or on the
ground resulted in an effect on a flight but where no physical evidence of an actual wildlife strike
exists.
For additional information please refer to CAP772: Wildlife Hazard Management at Aerodromes
Please note that 2016 information is provisional and may be subject to alterations
3
Reported birdstrikes
by year and birdstrike status
2012-2016
Confirmed
Near Miss
Unconfirmed
3,500
3,000
821
Reported occurrences
2,500
815
725
2,000
649
1,500
829
157
268
246
267
1651
1665
2014
2015
183
1,000
1380
1480
2012
2013
1835
500
0
2016
Year
4
Reported birdstrikes
by year
2012-2016
Rate per 10,000 aircraft movements
Includes only aerodrome operators reporting the number of aircraft movements
Reported birdstrikes per 10,000 aircraft movements
Reported confirmed birdstrikes per 10,000 aircraft movements
Reported near-misses per 10,000 aircraft movements
Reported unconfirmed birdstrikes per 10,000 aircraft movements
Rate per 10,000 aircraft movements
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
8.3
8.3
8.3
7.3
6.6
5.0
4.9
4.0
5.0
4.8
4.4
4.0
3.0
2.0
2.1
2.6
2.5
2.3
2.5
1.0
0.0
0.5
2012
0.6
2013
0.7
2014
0.9
2015
0.8
2016
Year
5
Reported birdstrikes
by birdstrike status
2012-2016
3839, 29.6%
Confirmed
Near Miss
8011, 61.8%
Unconfirmed
1121, 8.6%
6
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Reported occurrences
Reported birdstrikes
by month, year and birdstrike status
2012-2016
Confirmed
2012
2013
Near Miss
2014
Unconfirmed
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
2015
2016
Year/month
7
Reported birdstrikes
by month and birdstrike status
2012-2016
Confirmed
Near Miss
Unconfirmed
2,500
Reported occurrences
2,000
622
630
1,500
451
147
179
120
1,000
504
141
358
327
88
205
500
121
39
143
56
247
281
Jan
Feb
183
63
100
74
1336
1182
982
956
766
657
392
473
Mar
Apr
181
61
437
114
53
302
0
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
8
Reported birdstrikes
by bird family and birdstrike status (Top-20)
2012-2016
Confirmed
Near Miss
Unconfirmed
1,600
1,400
Reported occurrences
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
Bird family
9
Reported birdstrikes
by bird family and month (Top-20)
2012-2016
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1,600
1,400
Reported occurrences
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
Bird family
10
Reported birdstrikes
by bird species and birdstrike status (Top-20)
2012-2016
Confirmed
Near Miss
Unconfirmed
4,000
3,500
Reported occurrences
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
Bird species
11
Reported confirmed birdstrikes
by bird species and reported damage
2012-2016
No Reported Damage
Reported Damage
Reported confirmed birdstrikes
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
Bird species
12
Reported confirmed birdstrikes
by year and reported damage
2012-2016
No Reported Damage
Reported Damage
2,000
86
1,800
Reported confirmed birdstrikes
1,600
1,400
77
73
1,574
1,592
2014
2015
80
63
1,200
1,000
1,749
800
600
1,317
1,400
400
200
0
2012
2013
2016
Year
13
Reported confirmed birdstrikes
by reported damage
2012-2016
379, 4.7%
No Reported
Damage
Reported
Damage
7632, 95.3%
14
Reported birdstrikes
by year and operational effect
2012-2016
None
Other
Aborted take-off
Return/diversion
Technical malfunction
3,500
Reported Occurrences
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
2,038
2,552
2,599
2014
2015
2,739
2,256
500
0
2012
2013
2016
Year
15
Reported birdstrikes
by operational effect
2012-2016
118, 0.9% 253, 2.0%
13, 0.1%
403, 3.1%
None
Other
Aborted take-off
Return/diversion
Technical
malfunction
12184, 93.9%
16
Reported birdstrikes
by location of occurrence and phase of flight
2012-2016
Confirmed
Near Miss
Unconfirmed
7,000
6,000
Reported occurrences
5,000
4,000
1,772
1,941
357
714
3,591
3,364
3,000
2,000
97
37
3
1,000
733
204
8
0
Unknown
Zone A – under 200ft on
landing or under 500ft on
take-off
Zone B – under 1500ft
Zone C – above 1500ft
Location of impact and phase of flight
17
0
