Birdstrike!

Hey. I love the birds.

I have avoided several off-field landings avoided thanks to those hawks, buzzards, and ealges working the good stuff.

How many is that now for the 320?
 
Out of curosity, what time was it? I have noticed in the civilian world, there isn't much talk about "bird hours" (time near sunrise/sunset) but in the military, there is a whole crazy "matrix" in regards to birds. Certain times of the year, you have to have an 0-6 give you approval to take-off and land (depending on field and times). I just think it's a bit odd that the miltary makes a big deal about it, but not so much in the civvy world.

In the civilian flying, I do my best to avoid landing/taking off during the "high activity" times around sunrise and sunset.
 
We hit a bird at about 6000 feet at 9pm last night.

What the hell was a bird doing flying around up there that late?
 
HeyEng said:
Out of curosity, what time was it? I have noticed in the civilian world, there isn't much talk about "bird hours" (time near sunrise/sunset) but in the military, there is a whole crazy "matrix" in regards to birds. Certain times of the year, you have to have an 0-6 give you approval to take-off and land (depending on field and times). I just think it's a bit odd that the miltary makes a big deal about it, but not so much in the civvy world.

In the civilian flying, I do my best to avoid landing/taking off during the "high activity" times around sunrise and sunset.
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Well how much does an F-16 or a C-17 cost vs. a C172 or a 'Nole? I can see why they care a little bit... however the airlines don't seem to mind, especially with all the rivers we have everywhere... (Oh, no I didn't...)

RD
 
A few weeks ago I was flying from Orlando to Melbourne in an Arrow on an IFR flight plan. We were getting radar vectors at the time and had just leveled off at 3000 feet. My student was wearing the foggles at the time and there was another student in the back. Neither of them saw the eagle/hawk that was circling in a thermal ahead of us. I saw the bird, I knew we were about to hit it, but all i could mutter was an expletive. I grabbed the controls and banked slightly away from the bird, missing it by what felt like inches. I saw the bird pass just off the left of the nose of the airplane, and by the left side towards the tail. I actually imagined what it would sound like when the bird struck either the prop, windscreen, or the tail in that moment. I was pretty shocked when we didn't actually hit the bird.

That was the closest I've been to a bird strike.
 
BobDDuck said:
We hit a bird at about 6000 feet at 9pm last night.

What the hell was a bird doing flying around up there that late?
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I had a similar experience going into CLT one night. The think smacked the windscreen and left a big "mark". The FO was laughing at me because I actually ducked.
 
JordanD said:
I once taxied in formation with a gigantic butterfly...which then flew into the prop.
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That was kind of sad actually. I was watching it fly along like an inch from my window then I wondered where it went until I got out and saw it covered blood and guts on the prop.
 
Kind of late to ask, but did you end up contacting Chicago center?

If you did, i think i just spoke with the controller handling your problem!
 
I was on final into MDW one afternoon in the Lear. I saw a little black dot...which quickly became a big red streak right in my field of vision.

I also hit a Canadian goose in the Cirrus one day. During the migratory season, they typically hang out at this particular airport because of the vast expanses of open field. A back taxi with a few 360s in their general vicinity usually scares them far enough away to not be a factor. When I lined up at the other end, they were still waddling away from the runway. As I accelerated through about 50 knots, they got spooked and started flying...right back toward the runway. Just as I slammed the throttle to the idle stop, two of them criss-crossed in front of the prop and one slammed in to the right wing, about even with the outboard edge of the flap. I clearly remember seeing its neck wrap around the leading edge and then feeling the body smack the flap. I had passed the midfield turn-off, so I made a 180. As I did, I saw the wounded goose flailing around on the runway. Shortly thereafter, the flailing stopped, and only the wind ruffled its feathers.

I taxied in and got a mechanic to come out and inspect the leading edge and flap, and aside from some green goo, nothing appeared to be damaged.

I called up UNICOM and informed them that they may want to sweep the runway to remove the dead goose.
 
DPApilot said:
Hit a flock of gulls on takeoff, lost some power in the right engine. Not fun on takeoff.


damn birds.
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You mean these guys? Wonder what they were doing out there. I didn't think they could run that far away.
 

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