Every year approximately 21,000 bird strikes are reported meaning 50-60 occur every day. This may sound like a lot, but on the whole, bird strikes don’t pose a significant risk. In 31 years, wildlife strikes have only accounted for 292 fatalities worldwide. Statistically, that is 9 per year. When you factor that in with the 34.4 million people who flew in 2023, the odds of fatality are small!
Do bird strikes cause plane crashes?
After all, most commercial aircraft weigh quite a lot and are made from alloys designed to withstand turbulence and thunderstorms. However, several vulnerable areas would be in trouble if a bird hit, such as propellors, probes, flight control surfaces, and engines. Windscreens are the biggest threat from bird strikes. If a bird penetrates the cockpit at a high speed, the pilot could be severely injured.
Even small birds can be a significant danger to aviation. Birds nearly always come off worse when they make contact with an airplane! Thankfully unfortunate outcomes are exceptionally rare.
Can pilots avoid bird strikes?
So, it is necessary to propose an efficient and convenient method to prevent bird strikes from happening. Most occur when the aircraft is taking off or landing as they are attracted to any water surrounding the area. So what about if we cover the water?
An easy and effective way of covering any open water is by covering it with Shade Balls, which act as camouflage. All you need is a layer of these balls. Once they are poured on, they will deter the birds almost instantly. They require no maintenance or running costs and will last for years. London Heathrow installed Shade Balls in 2004, and they are still doing their job now, decreasing the number of birdstrikes and making flights safer for everyone.
To find out more, head to https://www.euro-matic.co.uk/cover-shade-balls/ or email info@euro-matic.co.uk if you have any questions or enquiries.