Damage Resulting from Albatross Strikes 
During the period from 30 October, 1957 to 17 April, 1958 
records of 256 strikes (out of the 310 listed in table 4) indicated 
the part of the aircraft struck, and the damage done. Eighteen (or 
7 percent) of these 256 strikes were recorded as having damaged the 
aircraft. About 1 percent of all daylight landings and takeoffs 
resulted in damaging strikes. It is certain, however, that a number 
of incidents involving minor damage (dented wings and cowlings, etc.) 
were not reported to the Tower, and are thus not included in the 
tabulation (table 5). 
Some of the strikes resulted in damage sufficiently severe 
to require the immediate grounding of the plane for repairs, but none 
caused damage serious enough to endanger the plane during landing 
operations. A very few of the strikes resulted in the grounding of 
aircraft for considerable periods of time, and for time-consuming 
and expensive repairs. The majority of the strikes caused only 
minor damage which was quickly repaired. 
In addition to the regular bird strike reports assembled 
by the Air Control Tower (table 5), a special summary report was 
received covering bird strikes suffered by the planes of one squadron 
of the Airborne Barrier Service, flying off Sand Island between 18 
February and 8 December, 1957. This report does not include a 
statement of the landings and takeoffs made by this squadron on Sand 
Island during the 10-month period, but these were many, frequently a 
number each day that the squadron was on active flight duty during 
the period. During the 10-month period this squadron listed 12 
planes damaged by bird strikes. Four were grounded for 1 day, eight 
for as long as 3 days. Four other planes damaged during the November- 
December period of intense bird soaring were grounded for 15, 21, 29, 
and 60 days, respectively. The summary of listed costs and losses 
due to damage by bird strike totaled $82,819, of which $77,970 was 
counted as depreciation, calculated at $565 for each day that the 
plane was unable to fly. Total costs for repairs and replacements 
was $4,849, and necessary repair labor by Navy air mechanics totaled 
1,073 hours. 
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