+----------------------------------+--------+-------+-----------------+
| ![](media/image1.w               |        | *     |                 |
| mf){width="0.5805555555555556in" |        | *Advi |                 |
| height="0.5625in"}U.S.           |        | sory\ |                 |
| Department\                      |        | Circu |                 |
| of Transportation                |        | lar** |                 |
|                                  |        |       |                 |
| **Federal Aviation\              |        |       |                 |
| Administration**                 |        |       |                 |
+----------------------------------+--------+-------+-----------------+
| **Subject:** **[Reporting        | **D    |       | **AC No:**      |
| Wildlife Aircraft                | ate:** |       | 150/5200-32A**\ |
| Strikes]{.smallcaps}**           | 12/    |       | Change:**       |
|                                  | 22/04\ |       |                 |
|                                  | **Ini  |       |                 |
|                                  | tiated |       |                 |
|                                  | by:**  |       |                 |
|                                  | A      |       |                 |
|                                  | AS-300 |       |                 |
+----------------------------------+--------+-------+-----------------+

## 1. Purpose:

This Advisory Circular (AC) explains the importance of reporting
collisions between aircraft and wildlife, more commonly referred to as
wildlife strikes. It also examines recent improvements in the Federal
Aviation Administration's (FAA) Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Reporting
system; how to report a wildlife strike; what happens to the wildlife
strike report data; how to access the FAA National Wildlife Aircraft
Strike Database; and the FAA's Feather Identification program.

## 2. Background:

The FAA has long recognized the threat to aviation safety posed by
wildlife strikes. Worldwide, wildlife strikes cost civil aviation an
estimated \$1.2 billion annually. Each year in the U.S., wildlife
strikes to U.S. civil aircraft cause about \$500 million in damage to
aircraft and about 500,000 hours of civil aircraft down time. For the
period 1990---2004, over 63,000 wildlife strikes were reported to the
FAA. About 97 percent of all wildlife strikes reported to the FAA
involve birds, almost 3 percent involve mammals and less than 1 percent
involved reptiles. Waterfowl (ducks and geese), gulls, and raptors
(mainly hawks and vultures) are the bird species that cause the most
damage to civil aircraft in the United States. Vultures and waterfowl
cause the most losses to U.S. military aircraft.

The FAA has initiated several programs to address this important safety
issue, including the collection, analysis, and dissemination of wildlife
strike data. The FAA actively encourages the voluntary reporting of
wildlife strikes.

## 3. How to Report a Wildlife Aircraft strike:

A wildlife strike has occurred when:

1.  A pilot reports striking 1 or more birds or other wildlife;

2.  Aircraft maintenance personnel identify aircraft damage as having
    been caused by a wildlife strike;

3.  Personnel on the ground report seeing an aircraft strike 1 or more
    birds or other wildlife;

4.  Bird or other wildlife remains, whether in whole or in part, are
    found within 200 feet of a runway centerline, unless another reason
    for the animal\'s death is identified; and

5.  An animal\'s presence on the airport had a significant negative
    effect on a flight (i.e., aborted takeoff, aborted landing,
    high-speed emergency stop, aircraft left pavement area to avoid
    collision with animal) (Transport Canada, Airports Group, *Wildlife
    Control Procedures Manual*, Technical Publication 11500E, 1994).

Pilots, airport operations, aircraft maintenance personnel, or anyone
else who has knowledge of a strike is encouraged to report it to the
FAA. Wildlife strikes may be reported to the FAA using the paper FAA
Form 5200-7 [Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report]{.underline}, or
electronically at the *Airport Wildlife Hazard Mitigation* web site:
[http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov](http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/).
The FAA's Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report Form can be downloaded or
printed from the same web site. Paper copies of Form 5200-7 may also be
obtained from the appropriate Airports District Offices (ADO), Flight
Standards District Offices (FSDO), and Flight Service Stations (FSS).
Copies of the Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report form are also found in
the Airman's Information Manual (AIM).

Paper forms are pre‑addressed to the FAA. No postage is needed if the
form is mailed in the United States. It is important to include as much
information as possible on the strike report.

The FAA National Wildlife Strike Database Manager edits all strike
reports to insure consistent, error-free data before entering the report
into the database. This information is supplemented with non-duplicated
strike reports from other sources. About every 6 weeks, an updated
version of the database is posted on the web site. Annually, a current
version of the database is forwarded to the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) for incorporation into ICAO's Bird Strike
Information System Database.

Analyses of data from the FAA National Wildlife Aircraft Strike Database
has proved invaluable in determining the nature and severity of the
wildlife strike problem. The database provides a scientific basis for
identifying risk factors; justifying, implementing and defending
corrective actions at airports; and for judging the effectiveness of
those corrective actions. The database is invaluable to engine
manufacturers and aeronautical engineers as they develop new
technologies for the aviation industry. Each wildlife strike report
contributes to the accuracy of and effectiveness of the database.
Moreover, each report contributes to the common goal of increasing
aviation safety.

## 4. Access to the FAA National Wildlife Aircraft Strike Database:

In order to expedite the dissemination of this important information,
the FAA has developed procedures for searching the database on line at:
http://wildlife‑mitigation.tc.faa.gov. The public may access the
database without a password and retrieve basic information on the number
of strikes by year, by state, and by species of wildlife.

Access for airport operators, airline operators, engine manufactures,
air frame manufactures, and certain other governmental agencies requires
a password to access the database and allows retrieval of more detailed
wildlife strike information for their specific area of concern. An
airport operator's access is limited to strike information for incidents
occurring on its particular airport. Airlines may only access strike
records involving aircraft owned or operated by them. Comparisons among
individual airports and airlines are not made.

Airline and airport operators, airframe and engine manufactures, or
governmental agencies may gain access to the FAA National Wildlife
Aircraft Strike Database by writing the FAA Staff Wildlife Biologist.
All written requests should follow the guidelines provided below:

1.  On Company Letterhead, request access to the FAA National Wildlife
    Aircraft Strike Database. Include:

    a.  Your preferred password. (The FAA does not assign passwords. The
        password should be no more than 8 characters, alphanumeric, and
        case sensitive.)

    b.  Your contact information. (Title, mailing address, phone number,
        and e-mail address.)

2.  Submit the request to:

> FAA Staff Wildlife Biologist, AAS-300
>
> Federal Aviation Administration,
>
> 800 Independence Ave. SW.
>
> Washington, DC. 20591.

3.  When the FAA receives the request for access to the database, the
    request and the password will be entered into the system. Upon
    completion of the process, the requestor will be notified by e-mail.

The database is accessible from the *Airport Wildlife Hazard Mitigation*
web page

([http://wildlife‑mitigation.tc.faa.gov]()):

## 5. Bird Identification:

Accurate species identification is critical for bird-aircraft strike
reduction programs. Wildlife biologists must know what species of animal
they are dealing with in order to make proper management decisions. The
FAA, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture --
Wildlife Services are working closely with the Feather Identification
Lab at the Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Natural History, to
improve the understanding and prevention of bird-aircraft strike
hazards. Bird strike remains that cannot be identified by airport
personnel or by a local biologist can be sent (with FAA Form 5200-7) to
the Smithsonian Museum for identification.

Feather identification of birds involved in bird-aircraft strikes will
be provided free of charge to all U.S. airport operators, all U.S.
aircraft owners/operators (regardless of where the strike happened), or
to any foreign air carrier if the strike occurred at a U.S. airport.

Please observe the following guidelines for collecting and submitting
feathers or other bird/wildlife remains for species identification.
These guidelines help maintain species identification accuracy, reduce
turn-around time, and maintain a comprehensive FAA National Wildlife
Aircraft Strike Database.

1.  Collect and submit remains as soon as possible.

2.  Provide complete information regarding the incident

    a.  Fill out FAA Form 5200-7 -- Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report.

        i.  A copy of Form 5200-7 can be downloaded and or printed
            from:\
            <http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/>.

    b.  Mail report with feather material (see address below).

    c.  Provide your contact information if you wish to be informed of
        the species identification.

3.  Collect as much material as possible in a clean plastic/ziplock bag.
    (Please, do not send whole birds).

    a.  Pluck/pick a variety of feathers from the wings, tail and body.

    b.  **Do not** cut off feathers. This removes the downy region
        needed to aid in identification.

    c.  Include any feathers with distinct colors or patterns.

    d.  Include any downy "fluff".

    e.  Include beaks, feet, and talons if possible.

    f.  Where only a small amount of material is available, such as
        scrapings from an engine or smears on wings or windshields, send
        all of it.

    g.  **Do not** use any sticky substance such as tape or post-it
        notes to attach feathers.

4.  Mail the Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report and collected material to
    the Smithsonian's Feather Identification Lab. They will forward the
    report to the FAA Staff Wildlife Biologist at the FAA's Office of
    Airport Safety and Standards.

  ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------
  **For Material Sent via Express Mail     **For Material Sent via US
  Service:**                               Postal Service:**

  Feather Identification Lab               Feather Identification Lab

  Smithsonian Institution                  Smithsonian Institution

  NHB, E610, MRC 116                       PO Box 37012

  10^th^ & Constitution Ave. NW            NHB, E610, MRC 116

  Washington, D.C. 20560-0116              Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

  (This can be identified as "safety       (Not recommended for priority
  investigation material")                 cases.)
  ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------

The species identification turn around time is usually 24 hours from
receipt. Once processed, the reports and species identification
information are sent to the database Manager for entry into the FAA
National Wildlife Aircraft Strike Database. Persons wishing to be
notified of the species identification must include contact information
(e-mail, phone, etc.) on the report.

For more information contact The FAA Staff Wildlife Biologist \[(202)
267-3389\], or the Smithsonian's Feather Identification Lab \[(202)
633-0801\].

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.0520833333333335in"
height="0.8020833333333334in"}

David L. Bennett\
Director of Airport Safety and Standards