New Bird Ingestion Tests?

Abstract

This article discusses the significance of bird ingestion in jet engines. Bird strikes occur at various aircraft locations, however, usually inflict most damage to the engines. Airplane damage and effect on flight from bird strikes are closely correlated to kinetic energy, derived from the mass (determined by the bird species) and the velocity of collision squared. The US statistics described in the article show that bird ingestion in commercial jet engines is significant and even more so, when combined with records from the rest of the flight world. Current statistics show that incidents of commercial aircraft jet engine bird ingestion are increasing, and are a continuing challenge over the next decade. Recently, European Aviation Safety Agency, working with other authorities, is proposing additional original equipment manufacturer bird ingestion testing requirements for an engine operating under climb conditions, following the ingestion of a medium sized bird into the engine core. It is also emphasized in the article that there is a need of a new systems approach to adequately mitigate the risks of aircraft and bird occupying the same air space at the same time.