Birds & Such.

This is coolbert:

Hasta la vista Birdie!

Here with additional comments regarding BASH [Bird Accident Strike Hazard] - - in conversation and Q & A with persons that KNOW BASH!

As from the original and prior blog entry:

"Critters: [dogs falcons, and owl decoys - - animals that are natural predators. Geese for instance recognizing any animal that goes on all fours and has long fur as an enemy to stay away from!]"

Those animals under the control of a handler used at airfields used to ward off birds. Natural predators of birds and recognized instantaneously so by the birds. SCARE THE BIRDS AWAY! Dogs, decoys [owls and other raptors], live in-flight falcons, etc.

1. As to the efficacy of decoys [immobile "scarecrows"] such as a plastic owl on a pole:

"I would remove owl decoys from your list as those have been scientifically proven not to work in the long run."

Indeed, some species of birds, most specifically those of the corvidae  [ravens, crows, jays, etc.] family, being relatively smart and able to distinguish between a decoy and a live owl! NOT bird-brains to the extent that they seems to be cognizant of the danger of airplane collision and actually purposefully avoid airplanes.

"That is right. Crows are also smart and avoid aircraft more than other birds. This has been either studied or witnessed by biologists working at JFK."

2. Falcons free-flying under the control of a handler, swooping, diving, making a display of aerial aggressiveness in the search for feathered prey - - other birds in the area being SCARED AWAY by the recognized predator:

"Yes, trained falcons are still used, but I am not sure which airports still use them. I know JFK stopped using them. It is expensive and sometimes they do fly off."

3. As as to under what exact circumstances BASH is most critical [high or low altitude, take-off or landing] we have a slight divergence of opinion:

"From what I have learned over the years, a birdstrike during take off or climb is the worst possible time for an engine ingestion since they are running at full power, have a heavy load of fuel and it is harder to maneuver then. But, that being said, damage to aircraft in general can be worse at higher altitudes because the plane is moving faster and thus, the impact is worse and causes more damage" [informant A]

"All bird strikes are different, in terms of what damage they do, altitude, airspeed, capabilities of the plane (single engine fighter, dual engine fighter, 'many motors' transport/tanker/bomber), and so forth." [informant B]

4. Finally with an anecdotal account from informant B of a high-altitude high-speed jet BASH incident, amazing that the STUDENT PILOT IN HIS FIRST JET FLIGHT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY LAND!!

"Some birds, notably the Sand Hill Crane, which had a major migratory route right through/over Reese AFB, near Lubbock, Texas . . . do fly at altitudes up to 16,000 to 18,000 feet. We lost a few planes and one pilot . . . at Reese--his head was smashed in by a large Sand Hill Crane at higher altitude--the inexperienced student pilot landed the airplane with his instructor's headless body and the feathered remnants of the crane in the seat next to him."


"'twas a T-37: side by side seating, with each pilot's elbow literally touching the other's. And yes, a headless body and the remnants of the bird's body. I saw the cockpit before they washed it clean within an hour or two of its landing. The mortuary people/medics had removed the body by the time I got to the plane."


"Very bloody! How the student had the wherewithal to land that plane, not having flown in a jet before (it was his 'dollar ride'--first familiarization flight with the instructor doing most of the flying, both to display the plane and the new training areas to the student), is beyond me. But he did. I don't recall how he did in the rest of the program, but we considered it quite remarkable that someone could land on his first jet flight, with speeds and approaches twice as fast as in the prop jobs (T-41/Cessna 172) that we were flying just the week before to get our 40 hours and solos in."

Just to be clear, the student pilot was qualified to fly, take-off and land in a propeller driven aircraft, this being merely a familiarization flight in a jet aircraft. Brought the plane and himself down safely, the damage done severe, canopy smashed, pilot in the seat next to him dead [headless] along with remains of the crane inside that cockpit!

Such are the dangers of BASH. Ameliorate to a degree but NEVER eliminate. Be cognizant and wary of at all times recognizing the peril is there no matter what and take remedial measures even if NOT perfect! Thanks to all informants.

coolbert.