The Science and Strategy Behind Combating Bird Strikes in Aviation

Late one night, a Virgin Australia flight departing from Queenstown, New Zealand, bound for Melbourne faced a harrowing emergency. Shortly after takeoff, the Boeing 737-800’s right engine emitted loud bangs and flames, leading to an emergency landing in Invercargill. The incident, attributed to a possible bird strike, highlights a prevalent yet often underestimated risk in aviation.

Bird strikes: Defined as collisions between aircraft and birds, these incidents can pose serious safety risks. While sometimes expanded to include land animals, bird strikes are more frequent and pose distinct challenges, particularly during flight.

Historical Context: The phenomenon isn’t new; the first recorded bird strike was noted by Orville Wright in 1905. However, with the increase in global air traffic, incidents have become more common. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reported 17,200 bird strikes in 2022 alone.

Commonality and Impact: Bird strikes typically occur near airports—90% of them during takeoff, landing, or at lower altitudes where birds are most active. The outcome of a bird strike can range from minor inconveniences to catastrophic engine failures, potentially leading to fatal accidents, especially in smaller, single-engine aircraft.

Preventive Measures and Technologies: To mitigate these risks, pilots maintain heightened vigilance during peak bird activity times such as dawn and dusk. Airports employ radar technology to track bird movements, though its effectiveness is limited to areas equipped with the technology.

Engine Design and Safety Tests: Aircraft and engine manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus design turbofan engines to withstand bird strikes. These engines compress air using fan blades, which are critical to engine functionality and particularly vulnerable to bird strikes. Manufacturers test these engines’ resilience by propelling high-speed frozen chickens at them to simulate bird impacts.

Airport Wildlife Management: Airports also play a crucial role in managing wildlife hazards. Techniques include using gas explosions to mimic shotgun sounds, which deter birds from airport vicinities. Some airports plant specific types of grasses and vegetation that are less attractive to birds, thereby reducing the likelihood of bird strikes.

This comprehensive approach to managing bird strikes—from technological innovations and engine testing to strategic wildlife management at airports—illustrates the aviation industry’s commitment to safety. As flight operations continue to expand globally, these measures are vital in safeguarding both passengers and aircraft from the natural hazards posed by birds.