Bird strikes in aviation has a strong impact - the impact between an aircraft and one or more wild animals - mainly birds (the so-called “bird-strikes”)- all over the world.
The presence of Birds and other animals on and near an airport poses a serious hazard to aviation safety, especially aircraft's operational safety.
Bird Strike on aircraft results in
significant costs, in terms of human lives, and material damage to aircraft.
Scientists think that birds own their ability to identify threats to both instinct and learning. Experiments suggest that young birds may be genetically wired to avoid risks. But they need to watch experienced birds in action refine their know-how.
By watching their parents in the act of mobbing, youngsters gain
critical knowledge that may save their skin. Of course, this ability works for
non-bird strike hazards.
This
short introduction about bird strikes to aviation. Therefore, I am sure you may
need to know more about this subject.
In this
article, I will let you know the basics information about Bird
Strikes, Bird Strikes mitigation measures, and what kind of advanced
technologies are used.
What is the meaning of bird strike?
A bird
strike is defined as a collision between a bird and an aircraft which is in
flight or on a takeoff or landing roll.
Simply,
when bird hits the aircraft (during the flight) at different points it's called
" Bird Strikes ".
How Dangerous is a Bird Strike?
Most
impacts between aircraft and wildlife – such as “bird-strike”- occur at
airports and in their immediate vicinity. Approximately 80% of impacts occur
below 300ft altitude during take-off and landing.
The risk
of impact, during a landing or take-off phase, is linked to several contingent
factors: type of birds presents in the airport, the intensity of the activity,
the number of individuals, the direction, the position, and in general to
factors typical of the airport under consideration.
Furthermore,
contingent factors include geographical location, proximity to foraging areas
for the bird or sources of attraction such as landfills and cultivated fields,
the presence of wetlands, the fact of being positioned along particular
migration routes for certain bird species, and the management of airport
sediments and much more.
I will give you an example of “bird-strike” as one of many wildlife strikes to aviation. When birds hit the aircraft turbine and get caught in the engine, this event is referred to as a jet engine ingestion (since the bird is ingested by the engine).
After being stuck in the engine, the birds can disrupt the rotatory
motion of the fan blades, resulting in a partial or complete failure of that
engine.
How to Prevent Bird Strikes on Aircraft?
The main
strategy on which the action of mitigation of the risk of bird-strike in
airports is based on the daily monitoring of birds. The
monitoring is supported by the various detection systems and the
ecological-environmental management plan of the airport to minimize the sources
of attraction for birds and make the airport a hostile place for bird presence.
In
aviation safety, technology is one of the perfect three safety defenses [
beside Regulation and Training]. So advanced technology is used in new
detection systems to strengthen safety measures in mitigation of the risk of
bird-strike in airports.
Bird
Strike risk reduction strategies may base on one or many of the following
control measures:
1- Bird & Drone Detection Systems
Using of
bird's detection radar or detection systems. Detection systems are
capable of effectively recognizing and classifying bird species and calculating
their trajectory, and immediately orchestrating the actions required to remove
species from the area to be kept safe (Such as B.C.M.S VENTUR
system).
2- Habitat Management
This can
be influenced by specific measures e.g., shorter vegetation, the netting of
water reservoirs, passive bird control measures on building, and falconry.
3- Use of Predators
The use
of peregrine and other falcons with various teams distributed over the day can
create hostilities in the affected territory.
4- Bird Robots
Flying
models in the form of predators are used and controlled by experienced
pilots.
5- Acoustic Methods - Predator Cry Systems
Bird
reacts to acoustic stimuli. This is used by predator's cry- and blank firing
systems. These imitate predators and the warning cries of the birds to be
controlled.
6- Acoustic Methods - Directional Acoustic Systems
Acoustic
Device acoustic signals up to 150 dB can be directionally beamed up to 1,500
meters. It transmits bird cries and other noises that disturb birds.
7- Visual Methods
Research
has shown that birds perceive light at 532nm wavelength particularly well.
Using a laser system is effective. The laser must only be directed downwards to
be safe.
8- Netting
For historical reasons, airports are often close to landfill
sites. These are irresistible attractions to birds. The only solution is the
large-area netting of the landfills, and also the neighboring reservoirs,
hangars, and other buildings.
9- Bird Houses
Birds
houses is used to attract birds so that they can be easily controlled and the
population reduced by exchanging the eggs.
Additional
methods may be used by the airport authority following the National Civil
Aviation Authority requirements.
Pilots
can avoid flocks of birds by delaying takeoff or landing in the presence of
bird activity. Below 10,000 feet, Pilots should keep speed below 250 knots if
operationally possible. Below 2,000 feet, Pilots should climb at the maximum
rate to reduce the flight time exposure to a strike hazard.
Conclusion
Preventing
is better than a cure, in another word, keeping aircraft and birds apart where
possible by using advanced technology besides other traditional bird
strike risk reduction measures.
Airport
authorities should use bird detection systems and it should be associated with
an appropriate policy of ecological and environmental management of the
airport, established based on accurate and detailed naturalistic research.
Further
reading:
- ICAO Airport Services Manual, Part 3 — Wildlife Hazard Management (Doc 9137).