Deer pose threat to GA pilots in Wisconsin
February 22, 2011, 03:25 pm
As if pilots did not have enough hazards to worry about, many aviators landing at airports in rural Wisconsin now also have to look out for deer charging toward their aircraft, according to the Wausau Daily Herald.
The hazard of growing herds of deer in areas located near rural airports has increasingly become a serious problem, the paper reports. A deer charged an airplane shortly after touching down on a runway at Shell Lake airport in Wisconsin last July. When the two collided, the crash resulted in $12,000 worth of damage to the plane, according to the news source.
Despite being a serious problem, wildlife strike incidents are scarcely reported, especially from general aviation airports, the Herald said.
Wildlife strikes can present a significant problem for pilots whether in the air or on the ground, though. Some encounters with animals can potentially damage a plane to the extent that it can no longer operate safely and may result in a fatality, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
According to the FAA's Wildlife Strike Database, there have been 23 reported wildlife-related aviation fatalities since 1990. Life insurance for pilots is especially important for those flying in areas prone to such incidents.
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