Encourages Pilots, Others To Improve Strike Reporting

The FAA is encouraging the general aviation community to “Report Wildlife Strikes” with a poster outreach campaign targeting pilots, airport sponsors, mechanics, engine manufacturers, students at aviation schools, and aviation organizations.

This year’s poster shows a bird on top of a stop sign with the simple message to report wildlife strikes. The FAA is delivering more than 12,000 copies of the poster to the general aviation community for use in high-traffic areas such as training rooms and break rooms. The FAA hopes that this continued and concentrated educational outreach, now in its third year, will help improve the strike reporting gap at more than 2,000 GA airports and commercial service airports.

A strike information report helps inform airport sponsors and the FAA what types of wildlife are involved, the amount of damage to the aircraft, and how many strikes occur at general aviation airports annually. This information will allow the FAA to help airport sponsors develop wildlife mitigation plans to reduce wildlife strikes.

In addition to the poster outreach, the FAA encourages GA airports to conduct a wildlife hazard assessment or site visit to help them understand and determine the wildlife hazards that are present on their airports. GA airports may apply to the FAA for support through Airport Improvement Program grants, which are available to conduct the assessment or site visit.

The FAA has optimized its website to make strike reporting easier with mobile devices. The agency has also has placed a Quick Response (QR) code scanner on the bottom of the poster for smartphone users who have the QR application.

The FAA remains committed to reducing wildlife strikes at the nation’s airports through options such as technology, research, outreach, and partnerships.

FMI: www.faa.gov/airports/airport_safety/wildlife