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Old 5th November 2005 | 12:58
  #25 (permalink)  
Canuckbirdstrike
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 141
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From: Canada
Old Smokey:

Once again the issue of using the weather radar to scare away birds is raised. This has got to be the most pervasive myth in aviation - it doesn't work!

As for your comments on a second radar unit configured for bird tracking, it is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Currently there is a great deal of research and field trial work being done with ground based radar units that provide raw data to software applications that are able to identify and track bird movements and also use predictive algorithms to generate future "threat paths". The objective is to produce a product that can be used to map potential aircraft/bird interactions and feed back the information to the flight crew. This work is well past the theoretical stage, but it will take time to refine the product and make it useable by ATC and flight crews. Discussion has also occurred on the issue of developing mechanisms to either build units for aircaft or to provide real time datalink and display information for flight crews.

I have seen the current product and am very excited with the results. I believe that the developers are well on the way to producing a practical safety enhancement tool.

Richard
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