[hack4alivin]

I think Hampton answered this very well from persoanal experiences. Just wanted to add that one of the news station flashed a statistic that there have been 79,000+ reported incidents of planes hitting birds. I didnt get the time frame.

So the obvious answer is yes. planes can and do hit birds and survive.

The friggen fat Candian Geese come down here from Canada and trade in their hockey sticks for golf clubs and never leave. They are protected because they are considered migratory and there are very few natural predators here to keep them in check.

Some dumb news reported said that they weighed 30 to 40 pounds. 40 pounds!!?? LOL.. That would be some bird.. They weigh between 7 and 14.

I suspect things are going to change for thost fat bastards.

I thought I saw a video awhile back of a member of the flight crew being sucked through the engine of a jet aircraft on a carrier. Is this possible?

 

[Four Suns]

The geese in my neighborhood don't migrate... they hang out here all year long multiplying and crapping up the place.

 

[Vince_nj1]

I saw that same video. Watch this. Full story

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/232469/guy_sucked_into_jet_engine_full_story/

 

[hack4alivin]

I saw that same video. Watch this. Full story

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/232469/guy_sucked_into_jet_engine_full_story/

Crap, it is blocked. Have to wait till I get home to see it.

 

[hack4alivin]

The geese in my neighborhood don't migrate... they hang out here all year long multiplying and crapping up the place.

They can’t. They can’t fly; they are all “wingless”

 

[Vince_nj1]

The jist of the story is that he got sucked in, his helmet came off and hit engine causing the explosion. The pilot shut the engine down and they pulled him out. He was cut up, but survived

 

[jg300da]

The cynic in me would instinctivly jump to the conclusion that the media is over-blowing the heroism of the captain and crew. For once, this actually does not appear to be the case! Looks like this Sully dude knew his $hit when it mattered most.

I thought the same thing but when you see the entire story you can only conclude that this guy was very highly skilled. Looks like he made all the right choices in a very small window of time.

 

[Vince_nj1]

One station reported that he was a licensed glider pilot. That sure didnt hurt.

 

[Kameroo]

Another pilot chiming in here...

Great job by the pilots and cabin crew! They didn't have any good options, and everybody got out OK. They are still extremely lucky the thing didn't split open on them. Agree--the media coverage sucked, but nothing new there.

On Tuesday, I finished my annual recurrent simulator training, and we covered a ditching scenario. Ours was cargo fire over the Pacific, no options, hurry down and ditch before the fire burns through control cables. Not exactly the same, but the point is that yes large carriers do train for this stuff to some degree. The rest is judgment and experience.

 

[wish2fish]

hail Obam! He just moves to Washington and things get better already. Can't wait till next week when he is president!

 

[Hampton]

The jist of the story is that he got sucked in, his helmet came off and hit engine causing the explosion. The pilot shut the engine down and they pulled him out. He was cut up, but survived

Something he had on got caught up on one of the intake probes and saved his life (belt, I think). His helmet trashed the engine and saved his life too. His eardrums were blown out (sucked out).

 

[Hampton]

Kudos to the flight crew for putting the jet down in one piece.


Hampton; I was on the wing when lead took a bird, the resulting hole in his leading edge was big enough to stick my head in... not that I did, too many bird bits...

What kind of planes?

 

[Air O'Nautical]

I have to go to Sim. training Miami in Feb. during the boat show.....Darn guess I will go walk around a bit.
I am going to try that dual failure splash in the Hudson trick.
That Captain did a great job making the best of a bad situation.
Mark.

 

[Hampton]

I have to go to Sim. training Miami in Feb. during the boat show.....Darn guess I will go walk around a bit.
I am going to try that dual failure splash in the Hudson trick.
That Captain did a great job making the best of a bad situation.
Mark.

Company? Aircraft type? I've done a lot training in Miami. Initial 727 FO, Some of my 767 training, and even some old, 737-200 stuff.

 

[Turtlesboat]

You know how to turn 200 people into instant bird watchers? Stick them on a plane out of NYC with live news coverage of a plane crashing into the Hudson caused by birds.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Company? Aircraft type? I've done a lot training in Miami. Initial 727 FO, Some of my 767 training, and even some old, 737-200 stuff.

Norht American
Instructor, Check Captain 757,767.
JFK.

 

[Hampton]

Norht American
Instructor, Check Captain 757,767.
JFK.

Very nice, Captain (squared).

 

[steviep53]

What kind of planes?

Canadian Air Force, 431 AD Sqn, Snowbirds, Canadair Tutor

 

[carterchapman]

You calling me the bonehead or the commentator? I wasn't saying it was better to ditch in.. hell... I wouldn't know. I would think landing the thing and not having those dangling engines or a wingtip rip you around in a cartwheel would be more important than the viscosity...

I guess that's the point of it being a stupid point... "Good news we landed... bad news you got 10 minutes to live once you are in the water."

Hi Gary,

The under wing engines are designed to "tear away" in a ditching. In this case, it appears one did and the other may not have (its been reported that way). When they lift it onto the barge, we'll know.

You're absolutely right about ditching wings level - here's a link to the Ethiopian 767 ditching a few years ago - he wasn't able to keep the wings level - notice the results. Not bad for being out of fuel and having a hijacker's gun to his head. I think about half survived.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqV1byLOmNc

 

[carterchapman]

Did many ATA folks end up over there? I was at ATA for about 8 years before leaving first for Airtran, then UPS. I'm hoping that most of the people who stayed at ATA have found employment elsewhere.

Hey Scott,

Did you know Kent Gibson at ATA? He came to Delta a while back...