Quote:
however, in most cases the bird on the runway is found after a reported strike and can be matched to the flight reporting it.
How do you know this for a fact and not an assumption.
Experience.....Also note I said 'In
most cases' I can only make a case for my own airport. Strike reports to Ground or Tower are investigated instantly. Those found without report are reported to the CAA under the Mandatory reporting system and hopefully can be matched to an aircraft. Obviously if there is a break in the reporting chain little can be done about it. Vortex or the Pilot being unaware of a strike account for some of the unreported finds. However on several occasions an educated guess has linked the find to a specific a/c
Identification by the BCU is 100% accurate. Those remains too damaged or too little to be identified from experience and training are sent to the lab for identification.
I notice you are US based. Is it mandatory to report all strikes?
I don't want to turn this important subject into an argument. I think the exchange of information is crucial to safety of the aeroplane.