The expected frequency of collisions of smallmeteorites with cars and aircraft

The cumulative distribution cf2>Ncf1>(cf2>dcf1>) of diameters of Earth-CrossingAsteroids (ECAs) derived by Poveda et al. (Poveda et al., 1998, submitted) is used to estimatethe frequency of collisions of meteoroids with cars and with aircraft. The expected frequency ofcollisions of a car with a meteorite larger than 10 cm in diameter turns out to be one impact every16 years. This frequency is consistent with the known incidence of such events (Lewis, 1996).The expected frequency of collisions of a cruising airplane with a meteorite larger than 1 cm indiameter turns out to be one impact every 30 years. Such an impactor hitting an airplane at avelocity of several hundreds of meters per second could cause a serious accident. 1999 ElsevierScience Ltd. All rights reserved.