Don't think 50-70 kts would make that much of a difference when hit by the size of that bird. 12000 ft coming into DIA, might have been at 300 kts or 250kts being only about 7000ft AAL. No requirement to be at 250 10,000ft AAL. The Pelicans that our 777 hit were at around 10800.
Don't think 50-70 kts would make that much of a difference when hit by the size of that bird
Wow. EK pilots that DON'T understand BASIC physics! F=MV2. Double the velocity, quadruple the force and all that. 50 knots is a MASSIVE difference in energy.
And I hear they were flamingos, not pelicans... Just a different shade of smear
I usually keep 250kts to 10; good comment 380 bro
Besides - you'll save 28 seconds on the whole flight by accelerating at 5,000' instead of at 10,000'
You're right, they were flamingos....my mistake. So, just wondering, if ATC tells you to accelerate to 300 or better above 5k, you'll refuse because you might hit some birds? Risk assesment...
Of course we can refuse the request, but it does concern me that Dubai ATC seem to expect us to accelerate when above 5,000ft almost as standard. Of late it seems to be an order rather than a request.
Personally I see little benefit in this manoeuvre as someone has mathematically proven.
Bird strikes have been reported up to 37,000'. Should we slow down up there too, just in case?
White nite: With your superior knowledge of BASIC physics, if you're coming out of or going into Addis etc, would you correct for 250 kts TAS? Just asking
One of my instructors way back was telling me how he hit a large heron-type bird doing high alt aerial survey, it came through the windscreen but unfortunately was still alive, kicking for all it was worth. They had to put it out of its misery before it did damage to them. Can't imagine what a pelican would be like, they are vicious bugg*rs on the beach let alone when ticked off...!
Many years ago a student of mine struck a large duck at whilst doing 420kts or so in a smallish jet on a low level Navex, needless to say there were was more than the remains of the duck to clean up afterwards. Heed 380's sage advice, F=MV2indeed
You guys have convinced me. I will only climb out at min clean from now on, just in case. Better slow down descending through 10 also, just in case. And since there is evidence of flamingos above ten, perhaps better keep that speed as slow as possible to cruise altitude. One just never knows. Thanks for the great info guys, I feel now I will be a much safer pilot heeding your advice. When you guys are low on fuel at Desdi and I have extra, be advised I will be dragging it in around 160, just in case there might be a bird out there. You know, I still have my old military helmet. I should probably strap it on nearing 10, just in case there might be a bird big enough to possibly shatter through the win screen. With all those force vectors and mass and velocity, I am so convinced now. See you in the sky. I'll be the guy you're having to vector for because now I know to be extra vigilant and be as slow as possible at ALL times, just in case. Really appreciate the schooling guys. And to think we have been living on the edge for the thousands of hours we all have.
TU - If ATC Tell me to maintain greater than 250 above 5000 I comply. Most times though, they say "no speed restrictions", in which case I stay at 250 til 10.
A previous poster states that they were hit at 10800. Were they 250 til 10? Im betting they weren't. Might not have been so much damage had they been. Clearly the risk of bird strike lessens with altitude, so I just try to apply a bit of airmanship. Cheers all.
Event: Birdstrike, with damage to A/C Blamestorming: Why you doing high speed below 10? Blameshifting: ATC requested high speed Blame Apportionment: ATC Punishment: Nil
or
Event: Birdstrike, with damage to A/C Blamestorming: Why you doing high speed below 10? Blameshifting: ATC said free speed Blame Apportionment: Pilots Punishment: Warning letter, loss of bonus......
or do 250 below 10,000 and save yourself all of the above
Now that DOES make a little sense. Or one could look at the bird strike at 10.8k. Maybe they were accelerating to high speed just above 10 and their rate of climb had slowed. Perhaps if they had sped up between 5-8k their rate of climb would have not been slowed at 10 to put them in harm's way while they sped up. Just saying....don't know many of the facts.
But again, we can all agree to what ruserious says.
