Birds vs. Aircraft

USDA officials examining an engine of US Airways 1549 hit by a bird. Courtesy of CNN.

On January 15, 2009, US Airways flight 1549 splashed down in the Hudson River in New York City after losing all power from the engines.

The reason? Birds.

A flock of Canada geese, weighing at about 18 lbs, much higher than the standard 4–8 lbs an aircraft’s components are required to survive, impacted the craft as it was climbing. Many went into the engines, smashing them apart.

As aviation is now a commonplace thing in the modern life, it’s crucial that aircraft can handle taking on these avian animals to ensure safety, but that’s easier said than done.

Current Methods

Today, the main force in preventing birds from interacting with aircraft are airports, since 90% of all bird strikes happen on or near airports according to the ICAO. Methods include pyrotechnics (fireworks etc.), egg addling, trained dogs, even bird detecting radar from the Dutch Air Force.

Aircraft don’t have many defenses of their own in the air, but that’s because the most common strikes happen a minute or so after takeoff or a minute or so before landing. However, the FAA mandates that engines and other components of the craft be able to withstand an impact by a 4 lb (1.8 kg) bird. The tail is an exception, that should be able to withstand a 8 lb (3.6 kg) collision.

Engines also have white spirals on the cone of the center of the engine holding the fan blades (shown in picture) that, when spun by the engine, tell ground crew that the engine is working, and in the air, create a white circle that discourages birds from entering.

Other than that, engines are powerless in the fight against an ingested bird destroying it.

An Airbus A350 engine. Note the spiral on the cone.

My Proposal

I plan to add a way for aircraft engines to fight against birds damaging engines and their components.

I apologize for poor editing

There will be a series of protective meshes made out of a light but strong material to let air through and offer protection to the fan blades and inner mechanisms.

There will be a series of meshes to prevent or at least buffet a collision with a bird, possibly averting a tragedy and increasing chances of making it to an airport.

This idea may not work, as an impact would be incredibly fast and may break through the meshes. But it is a step further to protecting engines.

Let me know what you think in the comments below!