Between 1990 and 2021 there were more than 255,000 reports of animals and aircraft colliding submitted to the FAA’s National Wildlife Strike Database (NWSD), according to proposed Advisory Circular 150/5200-32C, “Reporting Wildlife Strikes.” Over that 30-year period, 32,742 reports—12.8 percent of the total—indicated the collision caused aircraft damage and/or adverse effect to the aircraft in flight.
Ducks, geese, gulls, hawks, and vultures continue to cause the most damage to civil aircraft in the U.S., while European starlings are responsible for the greatest loss of human life. About 97 percent of all wildlife strikes reported to the FAA involved birds, while 2 percent involved terrestrial mammals and less than 1 percent involved bats or reptiles. But deer and coyotes remain responsible for the most damaging aircraft strikes.
The draft AC also describes recent improvements in the agency’s wildlife strike reporting system, changes to how to report a wildlife strike, how to access the NWSD database, and the FAA’s bird identification program. Finally, the proposed AC adds sizes, weights, and types of animals subject to strike reports; expands the bird/mammal list from 50 to 79 species; upgrades reporting forms; and requires reports to be filed electronically. Comments on the draft AC are due by June 12.