medium sized birds are by far the most frequently stuck. In general, these numbers have remained similar to the previous reporting period (2010 and 2011). Figure 37: Percentage of struck by bird size for each state for the 2004-2013 period 7.3.2 Damaging birdstrikes by bird size Damaging birdstrikes by bird size and operation type 21 shows that the larger the bird size, the more likely a strike that will result in aircraft damage. This is irrespective of the type of operation the aircraft is conducting. However, as a proportion of total strikes, those aircraft involved in high capacity air transport operations are less likely to be involved in a damaging strike than those being used for low capacity air transport. These in turn are less likely to be involved in a damaging strike than general aviation aircraft. This is related to the size and construction of typical aircraft in these operation type categories, as shown in Figure 38 on page 58. Table 21: Bird size by aircraft damage and operation type for the 2004-2013 period Operation type Aircraft damage Large Medium Small bird bird bird High capacity air Destroyed 0 0 0 transport Substantial 0 0 0 Minor 38 163 47 Nil 192 1,848 2,018 Low capacity air Destroyed 0 0 0 transport Substantial 1 0 0 38 168 21 Nil 95 992 505 General Aviation Destroyed 1 1 0 Substantial 5 2 0 Minor 57 147 47 Nil 36 480 271 Military Destroyed 0 0 0 Substantial 0 0 0 Minor 6 7 7 Nil 9 84 104 Damaging birdstrikes by bird size and aircraft maximum weight Figure 38 shows that lighter aircraft are more susceptible to damage than heavier aircraft as the size of the bird involved in the strike increases. However, aircraft with a maximum take-off weight above 272,000 kg appear to be more susceptible to damage than aircraft in the 5,700-272,000 kg weight category (although the number of strikes is considerably lower in the very large weight category). In the very large weight category, the Boeing 747 and the Boeing 777 were mostly commonly damaged, with the majority of damage being incurred on the wings of the aircraft, followed by the engines. Table 22 shows the number of strikes reported by bird size and aircraft weight category where the report indicated that the aircraft incurred some damage.
medium sized birds are by far the most frequently stuck. In general, these numbers have remained similar to the previous reporting period (2010 and 2011). Figure 37: Percentage of struck by bird size for each state for the 2004-2013 period 7.3.2 Damaging birdstrikes by bird size Damaging birdstrikes by bird size and operation type 21 shows that the larger the bird size, the more likely a strike that will result in aircraft damage. This is irrespective of the type of operation the aircraft is conducting. However, as a proportion of total strikes, those aircraft involved in high capacity air transport operations are less likely to be involved in a damaging strike than those being used for low capacity air transport. These in turn are less likely to be involved in a damaging strike than general aviation aircraft. This is related to the size and construction of typical aircraft in these operation type categories, as shown in Figure 38 on page 58. Table 21: Bird size by aircraft damage and operation type for the 2004-2013 period Operation type Aircraft damage Large bird Medium bird Small bird High capacity air transport Destroyed 0 0 0 Substantial 0 0 0 Minor 38 163 47 Nil 192 1,848 2,018 Low capacity air transport Destroyed 0 0 0 Substantial 1 0 0 38 168 21 Nil 95 992 505 General Aviation Destroyed 1 1 0 Substantial 5 2 0 Minor 57 147 47 Nil 36 480 271 Military Destroyed 0 0 0 Substantial 0 0 0 Minor 6 7 7 Nil 9 84 104 Damaging birdstrikes by bird size and aircraft maximum weight Figure 38 shows that lighter aircraft are more susceptible to damage than heavier aircraft as the size of the bird involved in the strike increases. However, aircraft with a maximum take-off weight above 272,000 kg appear to be more susceptible to damage than aircraft in the 5,700-272,000 kg weight category (although the number of strikes is considerably lower in the very large weight category). In the very large weight category, the Boeing 747 and the Boeing 777 were mostly commonly damaged, with the majority of damage being incurred on the wings of the aircraft, followed by the engines. Table 22 shows the number of strikes reported by bird size and aircraft weight category where the report indicated that the aircraft incurred some damage.
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