Different from Commercial Aviation industry, Military Aviation is exposed to far greater risks for animal contact / collision due to their incursions into more remote areas. In addition, Military aircraft fly at much higher speeds at lower altitudes than civilian aviation. Commercial aircraft, once airborne, climb to safe altitudes and only descend during landings while Military aircraft during some operations may stay at a sustained altitude under 1000 feet, thereby posing a significant higher risk.

Current highway marking systems provided by State governments typically use passive warning signs to alert motorist to the dangers of animal crossings. The Western Transportation Institute has been testing active sign warning systems that are activated by existing remote sensing systems to be used in high animal vehicle crash areas. Positive animal identification in a changing environment has been the shortcoming in this project.

Current methods of surveying wildlife from aircraft by state and federal agencies are limited to manual/visual or by forward looking infrared technology both of which can prove to be inconclusive due to human error and surface temperature changes.

This jet aircraft struck an elk and caught fire during take off.