Impact locations and damage to civil and military rotary-wing aircraft from wildlife strikes

Rotary-wing aircraft (e.g., helicopters and tilt-wing aircraft) are an important component of all U.S. military services and the U.S. civil aviation industry. Our analyses of wildlife strikes to military rotary-wing aircraft, both within the United States and during overseas deployments, as well as...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brian E. Washburn, Paul J. Cisar, Travis L. DeVault
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Utah State University 2017-05-01
Series:Human-Wildlife Interactions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol11/iss1/6
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author Brian E. Washburn
Paul J. Cisar
Travis L. DeVault
author_facet Brian E. Washburn
Paul J. Cisar
Travis L. DeVault
author_sort Brian E. Washburn
collection DOAJ
description Rotary-wing aircraft (e.g., helicopters and tilt-wing aircraft) are an important component of all U.S. military services and the U.S. civil aviation industry. Our analyses of wildlife strikes to military rotary-wing aircraft, both within the United States and during overseas deployments, as well as civil helicopters, have shown there are important patterns within wildlife strike data for flight operations conducted on airfields and during off-airfield missions. Birds accounted for 93% of the wildlife strikes where the animal was identified, and mammals (primarily bats) accounted for 7%. Wildlife impacted all parts of civil helicopters and military rotary-wing aircraft during strike events; however, specific areas were impacted by wildlife with a higher frequency compared to others. We recommend airframe manufacturers and maintenance personnel consider reinforcing and redesigning rotary-wing aircraft windscreens and main rotor systems to better withstand the impact of wildlife.
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spelling doaj.art-2933738268b549c99dad9e4cd9c9b24a2022-12-22T01:09:20ZengUtah State UniversityHuman-Wildlife Interactions2155-38742155-38742017-05-0111110.26077/6yvw-8k56Impact locations and damage to civil and military rotary-wing aircraft from wildlife strikesBrian E. Washburn0Paul J. Cisar1Travis L. DeVault2Wildlife Services’ National Wildlife Research CenterAberdeen Test CenterWildlife Services’ National Wildlife Research CenterRotary-wing aircraft (e.g., helicopters and tilt-wing aircraft) are an important component of all U.S. military services and the U.S. civil aviation industry. Our analyses of wildlife strikes to military rotary-wing aircraft, both within the United States and during overseas deployments, as well as civil helicopters, have shown there are important patterns within wildlife strike data for flight operations conducted on airfields and during off-airfield missions. Birds accounted for 93% of the wildlife strikes where the animal was identified, and mammals (primarily bats) accounted for 7%. Wildlife impacted all parts of civil helicopters and military rotary-wing aircraft during strike events; however, specific areas were impacted by wildlife with a higher frequency compared to others. We recommend airframe manufacturers and maintenance personnel consider reinforcing and redesigning rotary-wing aircraft windscreens and main rotor systems to better withstand the impact of wildlife.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol11/iss1/6airfieldscivil aviationmilitary aircraftrotary-wingwildlife strikes
spellingShingle Brian E. Washburn
Paul J. Cisar
Travis L. DeVault
Impact locations and damage to civil and military rotary-wing aircraft from wildlife strikes
Human-Wildlife Interactions
airfields
civil aviation
military aircraft
rotary-wing
wildlife strikes
title Impact locations and damage to civil and military rotary-wing aircraft from wildlife strikes
title_full Impact locations and damage to civil and military rotary-wing aircraft from wildlife strikes
title_fullStr Impact locations and damage to civil and military rotary-wing aircraft from wildlife strikes
title_full_unstemmed Impact locations and damage to civil and military rotary-wing aircraft from wildlife strikes
title_short Impact locations and damage to civil and military rotary-wing aircraft from wildlife strikes
title_sort impact locations and damage to civil and military rotary wing aircraft from wildlife strikes
topic airfields
civil aviation
military aircraft
rotary-wing
wildlife strikes
url https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol11/iss1/6
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AT travisldevault impactlocationsanddamagetocivilandmilitaryrotarywingaircraftfromwildlifestrikes