Over a week ago, Virgin Australia flight VA 148 took off from Queenstown, New Zealand, heading to Melbourne. Shortly after departure, the right engine of the Boeing 737-800 began making alarming noises and emitting flames. Using the remaining engine, the pilot successfully landed the jet with its 73 passengers and crew at the nearby Invercargill airport. Virgin Australia suggests these events might have been triggered by a potential bird strike, a common hazard in aviation. However, Queenstown Airport dismissed the theory, stating no birds were present on the airfield at the time.
Bird strikes, or incidents of an aircraft and bird colliding, occur frequently due to migratory patterns of birds, although notably, occasions of ground animals are included in this definition too. The first known bird strike was documented in 1905 by Orville Wright. One of the most notorious bird strikes occurred in 2009, when US Airways Flight 1549 hit a flock of Canadian geese after takeoff, leading to double engine failure and an emergency landing on the Hudson River.
Bird strikes mostly occur near airports (90% according to International Civil Aviation Organization) typically when planes are taking off, landing, or flying at lower altitudes. The impact of a bird strike varies based on the aircraft type and other factors. In some cases, engines have to be shut down, like with the recent Virgin Australia flight. Smaller aircraft, especially those with a single engine, face a higher fatality risk from bird strikes.
To defend against bird strikes, pilots receive training to stay vigilant during early mornings and sunsets when bird activity peaks. Radar technology is used to monitor bird movements, although its availability is limited. Engine manufacturers even test fan blades by firing dead chickens at them while the engine operates at full thrust. Airports adopt several methods to deter birds, ranging from gas explosions mimicking gunshot sounds to using specific plants that aren’t appealing to birds.
The author, DOUG DRURY, is the Professor/Head of Aviation at CQUniversity Australia. This piece was initially reported by The Conversation and sourced from RNZ. The views expressed are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of this newspaper.