Birdstrike at Night!
The other day, whilst out of 4000ft after take-off in a mountainous area AT 2AM, we heard a loud thump on the nose. No engine or airframe vibration and pressurisation was noral. It sounded like a birdstrike but we only confirmed after landing a couple of hours later.
Two questions:
1) Is it usual for birds to fly at 2 in the morning........ and 4000 ft high?!!!
2) Our company has no SOP on this, but should no obvious damage to airframe or engines be evident, do other companies reccomend a immediate return to land for an inspection?