The Nation - News from July 25, 1989

Despite losing nine military aircraft and six crew members to bird collisions over five years, the Pentagon fails to test planes to see if they can withstand such impacts, investigators said. The General Accounting Office, an investigating agency for Congress, reported that from 1983 through 1987 more than 16,000 collisions occurred. While most caused only minor damage, nine planes--including a $250-million B-1B bomber--crashed hitting birds. Losses for the period totaled $318 million. “If our military aircraft are not ready for birds, how can they be ready for combat?” asked Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), who sought the study for the House Government Operations Committee, which he heads.