Scholarly record

SOME CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT MILITARY BIRD STRIKES IN ROMANIA

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Valentina-Mariana Manoiu, Dr. Stefan Gheorghe, MSc. Razvan-Madalin Spiridon

Abstract

The present paper represents a first for Romania as it aims to empirically analyze the 26 collision cases between military aircrafts and birds registered during 1967 пїЅ 1991. The paper is based solely on the observations made in the above-mentioned period by the Chief of the Meteorological Division within the Romanian Air Force Headquarters between 1990 and 1993 (PhD meteorological engineer and retired commander). This article completes various scientific and statistical studies in the field, which were missing information on the military bird strikes in Romania. Besides these 26 collisions, three other incidents involving Romanian military aircrafts might have been caused by bird strikes. These events occurred in 2002 (two incidents, one of which ended with the death of a pilot) and in 2007 (an accident without casualties). Using the available information, we analyzed the locations of the bird strikes (the recurrence of certain aerodromes), the atmospheric and seasonal conditions in which the collisions occurred, aircraft types and the species of birds involved, creating a map with the key elements of this analysis. We noticed that in Romania, during those years, the highest percentage of collisions occurred in the proximity of the aerodromes located close to water sources, during autumn (seconded by spring) and we were able to identify a connection to bird migration but also to agricultural activities, with birds moving towards new potential food sources. Most of the collisions occurred during the day, under normal weather conditions and up to 400-500m. In more than 50% of the studied cases, the impacts took place in the proximity of the aerodrome, mainly during landing maneuvers. Among the elements which favor the presence of birds near aerodromes, the most important is the existence of food and water sources, followed by the nesting sites available in these areas. The present study also shows elements of ornithological flight assurance, the factors stimulating bird concentrations around aerodromes, recommendations for ornithological flight safety, as well as ways to remove birds from aerodromes.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2017/52/s20.106

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