A review of factors affecting pilot-reported bird-strike rates at Christchurch International Airport

Abstract

The aim of the paper, "Factors affecting pilot-reported bird-strike rates at Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand" (Chilvers at al. 1997), was to report on analysis of pilot-reported bird incident data. The study was undertaken to investigate factors influencing reported bird-strike rates, including the effect of intensified management begun in 1987 (Introduction 4 th para.). In this report I review the scientific merit of the paper, in particular, the validity of the use of the statistical methods. I have a number of specific criticisms of the paper and these are outlined below.