Birds Sucked into Engines?

**T.O.E Dream** · Nov15-09, 06:22 PM

I know that a lot of plane crashes were caused by birds being sucked into an engine (e.g. the Hudson River Landing). Is there a way around the problem? I know that no solution is out there so what are some things that's stopping it?

**mgb_phys** · Nov15-09, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by T.O.E Dream

Is there a way around the problem?

Avoid birds

I know that no solution is out there so what are some things that's stopping it?

There are lots of solutions used, airports have load noise and flashing light bird scarers, some places also use hawks and models of hawks.

**A.T.** · Nov15-09, 06:27 PM

Two possibilities:
- get rid of jet planes
- get rid of birds

Seriously, there is not much you can do, beyond more robust engines & cockpit glass.

**mgb_phys** · Nov15-09, 06:30 PM

Bird strikes happen somewhere in the world almost daily, they aren't usually that serious.
it's only bad when you hit something large enough to knock out the engines, generally the engine wins

**jtbell** · Nov15-09, 06:36 PM

It happened again today, by the way. Saw it on the local TV news just now. Didn't catch where it happened. Knocked out one of the engines. The plane landed safely, fortunately.

**T.O.E Dream** · Nov15-09, 10:26 PM

Tune into CNN right, right now. A bird knocked off a jet engine. Speak of the devil.

**russ_watters** · Nov16-09, 12:24 AM

Though they happen a lot, it is extremely rare for them to cause a crash, so it isn't something real high on the list of things to put effort into - it's more of a nusance than a serious threat.

**Lsos** · Nov16-09, 02:25 AM

I'm sure they could simply angle the jet inlet up, for example. Maybe put some sort of screen over it while they were at it.

Since it doesn't seem too hard, and I'm sure someone has thought of this, it probably means that the associated efficiency losses are much worse than an engine or two getting knocked out once in a while...

**russ_watters** · Nov16-09, 06:35 AM

Yes, angling the inlet up or adding a screen would vastly decrease the efficiency.

**mgb_phys** · Nov16-09, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Lsos

I'm sure they could simply angle the jet inlet up, for example. Maybe put some sort of screen over it while they were at it.

Some fighter aircraft (particulalrly Russian) have a retractable screen over the inlet to stop debris being sucked in on rought airstrips. But these inlets are very small and close to the body - the fan on a 777 or A380 is about 10ft across it would be tricky to have a bird proof screen for this.

**Born2bwire** · Nov16-09, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by T.O.E Dream

Is there a way around the problem?

Flak.

Originally Posted by T.O.E Dream

I know that no solution is out there so what are some things that's stopping it?

Anti-flak tower hippies.

**Ranger Mike** · Nov16-09, 11:53 AM

a couple of life like full size Barbra Streisand dummies would do the job