XN000022-1973-08-07 — Page 4

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Tuesday, August 7, 1973

Between September 1968 and December 1972, there were a total of

33 known collisions between birds and aircraft in the immediate vicinity

of Kai Tak eight of which resulted in damage requiring repair,

Known birdstrikes in the four years prior to 1968 numbered 24,

with damage caused in five cases. Only one case was recorded so far this

year and no damage was reported.

In nearly all recorded cases, the bird involved belonged to a

species commonly known as the black-eared kite, a large bird which does not

appear to show any fear of aircraft and about which very little is known.

Initial studies indicate that birdstrikes appear more frequent during

landing than take-off, and from limited information available it seems that

the majority of strikes occur during the landing run and within 100 feet of

the runway.

year,

While the number of collisions is fairly constant throughout the

more occur in October and November than any other month.

This would appear to be consistent with an increase in bird numbers

brought about by the autumn immigration of kites as local ornithologists believe.

However, not much is known of the kite's migration habits or territorial

behaviour and this will be one of the aspects that will be studied.

Apart from the black-eared kite, which is the major "problem" bird,

a number of others, such as seagulls and migrating waders will also be studied

as they are likely to constitute a problem in the future.