Airplane-bird collisions double in 3 years

CLEVELAND (AP) — New data posted on the Internet for the first time show the number of reported collisions between airplanes and birds or other animals more than doubled over the last three years at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

The figures, published Friday by the Federal Aviation Administration, revealed such strikes occurred 15 times more often in 2008 than in 1990. Only 13 of the 812 collisions were designated as substantial, and none caused crashes.

The number of strikes increased even as takeoffs and landings fell from 332,000 in 2000 to 235,975 in 2008. Burke Lakefront Airport near downtown Cleveland and Akron-Canton Airport also recorded more bird strikes.

To keep birds away, Cleveland airport officials have installed netting, replaced berry trees, planted new grass and removed standing water.

Friday’s first disclosure of the entire FAA database, including the locations of strikes, occurred largely because of pressure after the ditching of a US Airways jet in the Hudson River after bird strikes knocked out both of its engines Jan. 15.