|
With 900 bird strikes over a 17 year period
that means Sky Harbor Airport gets 52 bird strikes a year.
Or 4 bird strikes a month.
Or a bird strikes a plane about once a week.
Almost 900 wildlife strikes at Sky Harbor in 17-year span by Jahna Berry - Apr. 24, 2009 01:22 PM The Arizona Republic Aircraft at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport have struck birds and other wildlife nearly 900 times from 1990 and 2007, according to FAA figures released today. Nationwide, more than 82,000 animal strikes were reported during that time period. Arizona airports recorded 1,351 aircraft collisions with birds, deer, bats and other animals. The vast majority of those, 1,268, involved birds. It appears that most aircraft reported little or minor damage. Most incidents did not impact the flight. Sky Harbor had 893 wildlife strikes. Tucson International Airport has the next highest number of incidents during that time period, 238. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport had 135. Bird strikes, incidents where birds hit aircraft, have gained national attention since a US Airways jet was forced to land in the Hudson River after birds took out both engines in January. All 155 people onboard survived. It is difficult to compare the number of bird strikes at different major airports, said Ian Gregor, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Airports report collisions with birds and other animals on a voluntary basis, he said. Also, the figures may vary widely depending on how diligently airport officials report incidents, he added. |