PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Birdstrikes - How Often? How Likely?
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Old 13th Apr 2007, 19:42
  #24 (permalink)  
Sir George Cayley
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In the uk....

...there is no such bird as a seagul.

Black headed, common, lesser blackbacked, greater black-backed and herring gulls are wot they're called. Avoid mature herring and gb-b gulls - they hurt.

Blackbirds are not a threat - too small. The black birds seen around airfields are from the genus corvid i.e. Raven, Rook, Crow, Jackdoor or Magpie. In numbers they're probably Rooks. Canny birds corvids.

Geese - canada, Greylag or Brent plus Swans, Heron, Buzzard and Kite are big and can make control difficult after a strike on a light a/c

Plovers inc Lapwings (we used to call them peewits) being winter visitors are less of a risk now.

Flocks of starling seem to love turboprop engine intakes so a Bob Hoover style dead stick landing should always be performed if they are reported. Think how impressed the pax will be

Ducks and Racing pigeons - the Exocets of the bird world. Bang out if hit

But worry not. Chances are slim and of course all licensed aerodromes have an active bird scaring team don't they?

Sir George Cayley