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Research on Aircraft Collisions with Birds according to Identification Examinations in 2002–2019

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Abstract

The results of research on identification of bird species involved in collisions mainly with aircraft of the Aeroflot–Russian Airlines Public Joint-Stock Company are presented. Identification examination as a complex study includes DNA analysis, as well as examination of the macro- and microstructure of a group of feathers, a single feather, or a fragment of one. The bird strike location is established. The reasons and factors leading to the appearance of a species at the airfield are considered, and brief recommendations are given to minimize bird strikes at the airfield. During this period, 32 species of ten bird orders involved in strikes were identified. It was found that most collisions occurred with the orders Charadriiformes (mostly with gulls), Falconiformes, and Apodiformes. It is noted that more than 90% of collisions occur at the airport or in its vicinity; there are half again as many more strikes during taking off than during landing. The largest number of collisions takes place in spring and summer time and during daylight hours. The engine, nose cone, and fuselage mainly suffer from bird collisions.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to the workers of the IPEE RAS Yu.A. Bogdanova, Yu.A. Gorokhova, and A.S. Chubrakova for help in microscopy and manuscript design.

This study was performed using the equipment of the “Instrumental Methods in Ecology” Center for Collective Use under the IPEE RAS.

Work on identification research at the IPEE RAS is carried out under the auspices of the Scientific Council of the RAS on Biodeterioration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, 119071, Moscow, Russia

    O. L. Silaeva, M. V. Kholodova, T. V. Sviridova, S. A. Bukreev & A. N. Varaksin

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  1. O. L. Silaeva
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  2. M. V. Kholodova
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  3. T. V. Sviridova
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  4. S. A. Bukreev
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  5. A. N. Varaksin
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Correspondence to O. L. Silaeva.

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Conflict of interest. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement on the welfare of animals. This article does not contain any studies involving animals performed by any of the authors.

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Translated by L. Solovyova

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Silaeva, O.L., Kholodova, M.V., Sviridova, T.V. et al. Research on Aircraft Collisions with Birds according to Identification Examinations in 2002–2019. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 47, 624–632 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359020060126

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359020060126

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