What are the steps to safely handle a bird strike during takeoff or landing?
Bird strikes are a common hazard for pilots, especially during takeoff and landing, when the aircraft is low and slow. A bird strike can damage the engine, the windshield, the wings, or other parts of the aircraft, and potentially compromise its performance and safety. However, with proper preparation and procedures, pilots can minimize the risk and handle a bird strike effectively. Here are some steps to follow if you encounter a bird strike during takeoff or landing.
The first thing to do after a bird strike is to check the aircraft status and assess the damage. Look at the engine instruments, the flight controls, the fuel quantity, the electrical system, and the pressurization. Listen for any abnormal noises or vibrations. If you have a co-pilot, communicate clearly and divide the tasks. If you have passengers, inform them calmly and briefly about the situation.
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Stuart Bryce
Chairman at North East Residents and Farmers Inc. Vietnam veteran RAAF WgCdr Retd
(edited)There may be no time to consider a checklist. I experienced numerous birdstrikes in my career. Most significantly was one when a large goose went straight down the intake of No.2 engine (C130E), heavy and hot. This happened within seconds of lift-off, stalling the compressor. Perfect call by the engineer initiated shutdown procedure. However, weight, temperature, windmilling prop and a rising runway put the aircraft back on the ground. With 5,000 feet of runway ahead the crew did the unthinkable and aborted the takeoff. It took some weeks before the crew was finally exonerated for refusing a takeoff after V1. The only checklist that was carried out in the very short time frame was the engine shutdown. To quote Top Gun : “Don’t think, do!”
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1. Maintain control: Keep a firm grip on the aircraft's controls to ensure stability. 2. Declare emergency: Communicate immediately with air traffic control, declaring a bird strike emergency. 3. Follow procedures: Adhere to aircraft-specific emergency procedures outlined in the flight manual or checklist. 4. Climb or maintain altitude: If a bird strike occurs during takeoff, consider climbing to a safe altitude before troubleshooting. During landing, focus on maintaining a stable approach. 5. Assess damage: Evaluate the extent of damage visually and through instrument readings, if available. 6. Communicate with crew: Coordinate with other crew members to gather information and assign tasks.
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Always have an spare set of glasses. This is especially critical if you are nearsighted and wear contacts or glasses. Wind, debris, blood can impair vision and negatively impact your situational awareness and flying/landing your aircraft. Checklists can't help if you cannot see the checklist or your environment. Redundancy is a good idea.
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Also inform the tower and ask for immediate turn back for force landing .check the emergency landing proceduers and check and double check everything with co pilot andcrest of crew and prepare every one for emergency landing . Even though there are no immediate incident, till thecair craft has landed safely and checked everything carefully again.
Depending on the severity of the damage, you may need to follow the emergency checklist for your specific aircraft. This may include shutting down an affected engine, feathering a propeller, activating a fire extinguisher, or declaring an emergency. The checklist will guide you through the steps to secure the aircraft and prepare for a possible diversion or landing.
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7. Consider diverting: Depending on the severity of the strike and damage, consider diverting to an alternate airport for a safer landing. 8. Approach and landing: Execute a controlled approach and landing, taking into account any impaired performance due to the bird strike. 9. Inspect post-landing: After landing, conduct a thorough inspection of the aircraft for damage. 10. Report incident: File a detailed report with relevant aviation authorities to contribute to safety data and analysis. @ChatGPT
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Primero, es esencial mantener la calma y comunicarse claramente con la tripulación y la torre de control. Luego, se deben realizar evaluaciones rápidas del estado de la aeronave y cualquier daño visible. Posteriormente, seguir los protocolos específicos de la lista de chequeo para verificar los sistemas críticos de la aeronave, como motores, sistemas hidráulicos y eléctricos. Además, es crucial informar a los pasajeros sobre la situación de manera clara y tranquilizadora. Por último, tomar decisiones basadas en la seguridad, para esto podemos basarnos en el modelo de toma de decisiones para analizar el mejor curso de acción.
After stabilizing the aircraft and following the emergency checklist, you need to decide on the best course of action. This will depend on several factors, such as your altitude, your speed, your location, your fuel, and the weather. If you are still on the takeoff roll, you may need to abort the takeoff if you have enough runway left. If you are airborne, you may need to return to the departure airport or divert to the nearest suitable airport. If you are on final approach, you may need to go around or continue to land.
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La decisión sobre el mejor curso de acción debe ser rápida y enfocada en la seguridad. Si el impacto ocurre durante el despegue y no hay evidencia inmediata de daños graves en la aeronave o sus sistemas, el piloto puede optar por continuar con el despegue si la velocidad y la altura permiten un despegue seguro. Por otro lado, si el impacto se produce durante el aterrizaje y hay indicios de daño en la aeronave o sus sistemas, lo más seguro es cancelar el aterrizaje y realizar una aproximación nuevamente o desviarse a un aeropuerto alterno si es necesario. La prioridad es asegurar la integridad de la aeronave y la seguridad de los pasajeros y la tripulación.
As soon as possible, contact the air traffic control and inform them of your situation. Tell them what happened, what damage you have, what your intentions are, and what assistance you need. Request priority clearance if necessary. Follow their instructions and keep them updated on your status. Be prepared to provide your flight number, your aircraft type, your position, your altitude, your heading, and your speed.
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It's crucial for flight crews to promptly inform relevant ATCO units about bird strikes, even in the absence of immediate emergencies or aircraft damage. This proactive approach ensures that other flight crews are promptly alerted, enhancing overall situational awareness and mitigating potential risks posed by bird presence on runways or during approach phases.
Once you have decided on your course of action and contacted the air traffic control, execute the landing or diversion. Follow the normal or abnormal procedures for your aircraft and use the appropriate speeds and configurations. Be alert for any changes in the aircraft performance or behavior. Use extra caution and margin of safety. If you land at a different airport, report the bird strike to the local authorities and inspect the aircraft for damage.
After you have safely handled a bird strike, you can learn from the experience and improve your skills and knowledge. Review what happened, what you did, what worked, and what didn't. Seek feedback from your co-pilot, your passengers, your instructor, or your peers. Review the applicable regulations, guidelines, and best practices for bird strike prevention and management. Report the incident to the appropriate agencies and databases to help other pilots and researchers.
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A major accident teaches a lot and learning from major accidents helps us to correct ourselves and helps avoid any major catastrophe. In civil aviation learning is a continuous process and it is rightly said try to learn from others mistakes because life is too short to learn from your own mistakes because it takes ages to correct a single step and life is very small
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Tras enfrentar un incidente de impacto de aves, es crucial aprender de la experiencia. Fortalecer el sistema de gestión de seguridad implica analizar los informes detallados del incidente, identificar áreas de mejora y ajustar los protocolos de seguridad en consecuencia. Implementar sistemas de reporte eficaces permite recopilar datos relevantes para prevenir incidentes similares en el futuro, promoviendo una cultura de seguridad proactiva y continuo mejoramiento. Además, retroalimentar a los aeródromos involucrados para que generen iniciativas que permitan mitigar los riesgos asociados con el programa BASH.
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I flew an attack helicopter, the A1-T TOW cobra, whose top airspeed was about 175 mph, but significantly slower during takeoff and landing. But even so a birdstrike can potentially be catastrophic. Aviate, Navigate, Communicate: Prioritize these principles of emergency management in this order. Crew Coordination: Ensure clear communication and division of tasks during emergency. Immediately After Impact: (1) Maintain Control: The most crucial step is to maintain control of the helicopter. Avoid abrupt maneuvers that could further destabilize the aircraft. (2) Assess Damage: Quickly scan the instruments and visually inspect the helicopter for any signs of damage: engine vibrations, unusual control response, or smoke.
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Fly the aircraft, best you can. Wings level, power set to cruise or a bit better......assuming you can make sense of the VSI, ensure it's pointed up a little bit. Count to 8, 9 or 10 (as fast as is necessary).......get your sh!t together and think. Talk to whomever you feel you should. Then figure out what happened and land safely. My two cents.
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First step do not allow bird hit to happen. If bird hit happens access the damage that has been done , if bird hit resulted in engine failure, request ATC for priority landing ,put both the engine on idle that got hit by bird , try to land immediately. Bird hit can happen during takeoff as well as landing roll . During landing if bird hit happens Inform ATC for bird hit so that runway inspection can be carried out and safety of other arrivals can be ensured
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We as a safety major keep our landing lights ON for critical phase of flight i.e take off and landing. Maintain speed limit for landing light. Maintain a higher rate of climb to quickly climb over the flight level at which bird activities are reported or likely to encounter. Generally very rare birds are reported above 6000 feet AGL.
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Aviate : make sure the a/c is on a safe trajectory Navigate : where to go , continue on the SID or on the engine-out SID , go above the MSA , avoid possible adverse weather. Communicate : make sure effective communication is in place in the flight deck , call cabin crew at stations , inform the ATC and ask for a runway inspection. Then review the possible damage on the engines (vibrations, smell) and cross check of the air data information in case of any damage on the probes When the damage assessment is done , proceed with the actions