Aviation hazards from flocks of birds,

Seoul [South Korea], February 8: South Korean authorities have ordered the installation of bird-detecting cameras and radar systems at all airports in the country following the Jeju Air plane crash late last year that killed 179 people. The pilot was warned of the risk of hitting a bird, and preliminary reports showed blood and feathers in both engines. Tests matched the DNA of the Baikal teal, a migratory duck common in South Korea during the winter, according to Reuters. Although a final conclusion has not been made, bird strikes are considered a potential cause of the crash.
Major damage
Reuters cited data from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showing that more than 90% of bird strikes do not cause damage to the aircraft. However, the remaining few cases still cause great damage to airlines each year, even leading to casualties.
WCNC cited a report from the FAA and the US Department of Agriculture showing that from 1990 to 2023, there were 296,613 civilian aircraft strikes with wildlife globally, mostly birds. About 62% of the cases occurred during the day and 61% occurred when the plane was landing. More than 350 military and civilian aircraft worldwide were damaged by bird strikes from 1988 to 2023 and more than 491 people died, according to the FAA.
Commercial aircraft engines are designed to continue operating even if birds are sucked in. However, problems can arise when a large flock of birds is hit. In 2009, a US Airways plane hit a flock of Canada geese, which can weigh up to 13 pounds, shortly after takeoff from New York City. Both engines failed and the pilot successfully landed the plane in the Hudson River, saving everyone on board in what became known as the "Miracle on the Hudson." A similar incident occurred in Russia in 2019, when a plane successfully landed in a cornfield after its engines failed after hitting birds.
Aircraft damaged by bird strikes can cause huge economic losses because the cost of repairing and replacing aircraft parts is often expensive. In addition, the long repair time causes losses for the airline because it cannot operate. A B-737 MAX 8 aircraft of Southwest Airlines (USA) taking off from Cuba in March 2023 was hit by a bird, damaging the nose and stopping one engine. Although the plane made a successful emergency landing, the repair cost is estimated at 14.5 million USD. According to the FAA, the damage from aircraft hitting birds in the period 1990 - 2019 in the US is estimated at up to 500 million USD per year.
Many preventive measures
According to NPR, since the 2009 incident, the US government has invested tens of millions of dollars in research into systems to detect and monitor wildlife near airports. Airports use a variety of methods to scare away birds, such as flashing lights, fireworks, handheld lasers, scarecrows, or nets. Some places use unmanned vehicles, even hunting dogs or birds of prey to chase birds away. Some airports have also converted the surrounding areas to make them unsuitable for birds to live in.
South Korean authorities have ordered the installation of infrared cameras and bird-warning radars at all airports to promptly detect and warn air traffic controllers and pilots of potential collisions. They have also deployed vehicles equipped with sonar devices that emit unpleasant sounds to scare away large birds. In addition, South Korea has built a legal framework to relocate food waste treatment facilities or orchards away from airports to prevent birds from gathering.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper