Pilots of United Boeing 737 report striking drone on takeoff from San Francisco
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,020
Received 2,900 Likes
on
1,242 Posts
Pilots of United Boeing 737 report striking drone on takeoff from San Francisco
United Boeing 737 MAX9 was on the initial climb when the pilots reported they had probably hit a drone.
The aircraft (registration N37535) climbed to 5,000 ft when the pilots contacted the tower and requested to return to SFO.
The flight was vectored back to SFO on runway 28R.An American Airlines pilot, waiting for takeoff, reported that animals were crossing the runway.
The flight landed 40 minutes after departure with 187 souls onboard after ILS approach.
It’s still not sure if the Boeing 737 MAX really hit a drone or if it was a more common birdstrike.
The aircraft (registration N37535) climbed to 5,000 ft when the pilots contacted the tower and requested to return to SFO.
The flight was vectored back to SFO on runway 28R.An American Airlines pilot, waiting for takeoff, reported that animals were crossing the runway.
The flight landed 40 minutes after departure with 187 souls onboard after ILS approach.
It’s still not sure if the Boeing 737 MAX really hit a drone or if it was a more common birdstrike.
Spoiler
Gender Faculty Specialist
Boeing really have shot themselves in the foot with the Max haven't they? This would not have happened if it was an Airbus! 
Psychophysiological entity
Given that the European Robin has a Head Up Display in its right eye, it remains to be seen. (see what I did there)
Really, angle of dip data is fed to its right eye.
Really, angle of dip data is fed to its right eye.
If you hit a decent sized bird on a cockpit window it sounds like a small explosion in the cockpit. Would you be comfortable pressurizing the aircraft fully while sitting next to that window?
They made their own risk assessment based on what info they had, and if they chose conservatively so be it.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Wherever I go, there I am
Age: 43
Posts: 804
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Certainly happy if not visibly damaged, why ever not?
While I would tend to agree with you where the strike is obvious and it is clear there was no damage done continue on, it doesn't sound as though that was the impression here. In which case, excellent job to ensure the safety of all onboard.
You would have no idea what damage may have occurred to the structure not visible from inside the cockpit. The kinetic energy from even a modest sized bird is enormous at 250 knots. I hit a bird at 250 knots in a USN trainer and the aircraft never flew again. Most of the structural damage was not visible. I had what we considered a minor strike in another aircraft that broke a frame internally. A visual inspection showed nothing until they borescoped inside.
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Within AM radio broadcast range of downtown Chicago
Age: 71
Posts: 849
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
