Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Kelly, TC;Sleeman, DP;Coughlan, NE;Dillane, E;O'Callaghan, MJA
2017
February
European Journal of Wildlife Research
Bat collisions with civil aircraft in the Republic of Ireland over a decade suggest negligible impact on aviation safety
Validated
Optional Fields
63
Globally, collisions between wildlife and aircraft are a serious threat to aviation safety. While reported collisions have increased in recent years, the impact of these collisions on air safety is rarely quantified. Here, we report all bat collisions (bat strikes) with civil aircraft known to have occurred in the Republic of Ireland over the 10-year interval, 2006-2015. Morphological and/or DNA identification techniques were used to identify chiropteran specimens to species level. In total, carcasses or remains from five bat strikes-three Leisler's Nyctalus leisleri, one Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus, and one Natterer's Myotis nattereri-were recovered. The collisions are discussed in the context of (a) the rate of chiropteran strikes in relation to the number of civil aircraft movements and (b) possible damage caused to aircraft. Overall, however, bat strikes with aircraft appear to have a negligible effect on civil aircraft safety.
NEW YORK
1612-4642
10.1007/s10344-017-1081-x
Grant Details