Avoiding birds attacking aircraft

Ultraviolet light can reduce the risk of dangerous confrontation between birds and planes.

Although very small in front of the giant iron bird, birds can seriously damage human property, not to mention the worst case of causing the plane to fall. Now, experts have found that just fitting a special light can prevent airborne encounters.

The key point in the study is how the feathers observe the world, unlike the prism of the human eye. Experts led by wildlife biologist Bradley Blackwell working for the US Department of Agriculture have focused on the Canadian geese, the culprit who attacked most aircraft from 1990 to 2010 according to the Department of Statistics Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Accordingly, this species has a broader view than humans. And they also see ultraviolet light, a part of the electromagnetic field that is completely invisible to humans. The conclusion is that geese look at planes no differently than potential enemies, and experts suggest intensifying warnings by adding ultraviolet rays on planes.

The collisions between birds and planes can have catastrophic consequences, as not everyone is as lucky as the famous Hudson River miracle in 2009. Then pilots Emergency landing in the Hudson River in New York after the engines were destroyed because the bird hit the head.

Since 1988, at least 219 people have died worldwide in bird and aircraft clashes, according to the US Birds Attacks Committee. The FAA said there were more than 108,000 bird crashes in the past 19 years in the United States. And on average there are about 20 seasons per day between 2004 and 2008. The aviation safety authorities have traditionally focused on the removal of birds from the airport, but little has been said about protecting the aircraft while on the move. is not. And the study provides an effective solution to this problem, according to a report in the Journal of Applied Ecology.