Thought this post from K worth a bump.
Tom's Eagle. (A twiddle)..
I don't imagine that the 'subject' will ever be included in a pilot training syllabus; or, if the folk law and general practice can ever be formalised into a comprehensive format. There is a good case to support this notion, the cost of producing a manual or even a short video probably on a par with the cost of the time the ATSB commissioner wasted rabbiting on about a simple matter of a bird strike and an out of control 'drone'. If you need a 'headline' case to prove the pudding, note the silence surrounding the increase in TIBA operations and the 'look-at-me' blather spouted over what are 'routine' events. But, although unintentional contact with 'wild life' can and does cause the odd problem or two (look no further than 'Sully' and his encounter with wildlife _HERE_) I can't see why some form of 'advice' cannot be made generally available, as part of 'improved' hazard awareness. It beats seven bells out of meaningless twaddle in the media. The FAA have taken the 'problem' seriously enough and are doing something about it – HERE_.
Strange as it may seem to city folk, there are many varieties of local wild and domestic life which can really spoil your day; they are part and parcel of every day life in the air, particularly to non scheduled operations into minor airfields. Statistically, contact events don't rate as a 'major' threat, which probably explains why the 'subject' has never been formally recognised; but the results of a chance meeting can be lethal at worst, costly and scary at best. The potential for an 'incident' comes in two flavours; land based and airborne.
Land based are probably (on balance) the most lethal; but also the rarest. Two 'busy' times for those flying – early morning take off into the sun/ mist/dust /rain and evening, just on dusk landing into crepuscular light, dust and fatigue an element. Two or three Kangaroos belting across the runway at 20 knots as you thread the needle between first and last at speed (surface, brakes and nose wheel?). Cattle that just wont move. especialy when fuel is low and night is approaching; donkeys another cunning, hard to see road bump that will seriously spoil you day. Yes, we have stock fences, mostly well maintained but animals are not as dumb as some would have you believe; not by a long shot they ain't. Chances of a close encounter, in the bush, higher than you may think. We ran some numbers from 'non scheduled' operating days: a 'Jesus saves' event once in every 5,000 hours; a 'Duck me' moment once every 1500 hours and a 'would ya look at that' event just a tick over once every twelve month. Statistically insignificant, unless it is you at the wheel.
The airborne group is (pardon the expression) an altogether different animal. Most pilots can, with ease spot the difference between cow, camel, donkey and kangaroo; and, probably anticipate the actions of either. But knowledge of the 'behaviour' and responses of avian species is limited. It was discussion of Tom's Eagle which kicked off this ramble; well, that and the pompous Popinjay banging on about 'bird strike'. I doubt he could tell a Wedge Tail from a Buzzard if it bit him on the arse. However, it probably matters that pilots have a least a rough working knowledge of the way 'Birds' operate and interact with aircraft. Particularly the larger species; their habitat, habits and 'working patterns'. Watch the Gulls at the beach front working a patch of spilled chips (fries); sure they'll move away, but then – circle back to the food – every time, it comes from hunting, ruthless determination to return, no matter the threat. Proof? Oh, that's easy watch the man at Mascot with the shot gun; he blasts away, the Gulls bugger off – he departs the fix and back troop the birds. You can almost imagine the conversation - “he's back Gladys, best round up the kids” “honestly Charlie, I don't see why we have oblige this ugly machine and noise every hour or so.” - “Just think of it as rent Dear; mutual preservation; come on, two quick laps of the airfield, just the thing before lunch”...........
But, what of the not so obliging? Things like Wedge Tail eagles, Swans, Pelicans, Sea Eagles, Emu's and half a dozen other 'big birds'. Google remains a stalwart friend; their size, weight, habits and much else is all freely available and worth a quiet hour study. Seeing as how the noisy Popinjay has weighed in on a 'bird strike' and the potential hazard to helicopter operations from Wedge Tails, I thought it may be worthwhile to mention some things Google omits from its worthy information pages; from the pilot's perspective. First item – the bird itself – HERE - .
Item next – as you can see, this is a large 'dark' coloured bird with a very large wing span and pretty easy to spot, on the wing. There it hovers, effortlessly watching for prey you could assume; true, but wait, there's more. Nothing in the skies challenges this master of air – nothing; it just ain't scared of you and not about to loose the prime position adopted; often over the same spot – it ain't going to move. See and avoid your responsibility. The bird is hostile to 'invaders' – ask the members of the Darwin model aircraft club (terrific venue) about the carnage as two or three 'Wedgies' decide that the intruder must be seen off; the clumsy attempts to out fly these masters by ground based folk is almost laughable; result – machines shredded, birds doing aerial 'high fives' – wishing they could eat what they've killed. Pelicans another worthy adversary; once prey is spotted from the circling area - and the dive commenced, it is prudent to move aside. Swans, just after take off accelerating through V2 to V4 will rarely alter course – for some very valid aerodynamic reasons; and, it must be remembered that the 'Cob' is particularly fearless and reluctant to give way to an aggressor.
But I have digressed and probably bored the fellahin rigid; all TOM's fault. It was the yarn of his most treasured acquaintance with Wedge Tail that started this ramble (well, that and his 'observations' on our Popinjay's waffle). Many, many years ago, as a young fellah, TOM flew a regular service into a valley, surrounded by some rugged country. One day he spotted the Wedge Tail (WT) parked at altitude over a prominent feature; effortless and amazing (30 knot headwind that day and 'bumpy' low down). The airframe was 'nudged' over a little to get a better look; there they were – eye-ball to eye ball for a fleeting moment. This became a regular event, much anticipated and enjoyed; but, TOM always 'blinked' first and peeled away. The best part of the yarn is the day he had a visiting travel journalist in the right seat; descending through cloud TOM nudged the journo and pointed to a spot on the wind screen “Watch there” and just as they cleared to cloud base – there was TOM's Eagle in a sunbeam, on time, on station – Good morning old friend whispered TOM as the journo sat in stunned silence – until later - “Wow etc. etc” and that journo never forgot the memory until he sadly passed away, a life long friend, still missed to this very day.
Enough – ramble over; with apologies to those who don't 'get it'..
Toot – toot..
Tom's Eagle. (A twiddle)..
I don't imagine that the 'subject' will ever be included in a pilot training syllabus; or, if the folk law and general practice can ever be formalised into a comprehensive format. There is a good case to support this notion, the cost of producing a manual or even a short video probably on a par with the cost of the time the ATSB commissioner wasted rabbiting on about a simple matter of a bird strike and an out of control 'drone'. If you need a 'headline' case to prove the pudding, note the silence surrounding the increase in TIBA operations and the 'look-at-me' blather spouted over what are 'routine' events. But, although unintentional contact with 'wild life' can and does cause the odd problem or two (look no further than 'Sully' and his encounter with wildlife _HERE_) I can't see why some form of 'advice' cannot be made generally available, as part of 'improved' hazard awareness. It beats seven bells out of meaningless twaddle in the media. The FAA have taken the 'problem' seriously enough and are doing something about it – HERE_.
Strange as it may seem to city folk, there are many varieties of local wild and domestic life which can really spoil your day; they are part and parcel of every day life in the air, particularly to non scheduled operations into minor airfields. Statistically, contact events don't rate as a 'major' threat, which probably explains why the 'subject' has never been formally recognised; but the results of a chance meeting can be lethal at worst, costly and scary at best. The potential for an 'incident' comes in two flavours; land based and airborne.
Land based are probably (on balance) the most lethal; but also the rarest. Two 'busy' times for those flying – early morning take off into the sun/ mist/dust /rain and evening, just on dusk landing into crepuscular light, dust and fatigue an element. Two or three Kangaroos belting across the runway at 20 knots as you thread the needle between first and last at speed (surface, brakes and nose wheel?). Cattle that just wont move. especialy when fuel is low and night is approaching; donkeys another cunning, hard to see road bump that will seriously spoil you day. Yes, we have stock fences, mostly well maintained but animals are not as dumb as some would have you believe; not by a long shot they ain't. Chances of a close encounter, in the bush, higher than you may think. We ran some numbers from 'non scheduled' operating days: a 'Jesus saves' event once in every 5,000 hours; a 'Duck me' moment once every 1500 hours and a 'would ya look at that' event just a tick over once every twelve month. Statistically insignificant, unless it is you at the wheel.
The airborne group is (pardon the expression) an altogether different animal. Most pilots can, with ease spot the difference between cow, camel, donkey and kangaroo; and, probably anticipate the actions of either. But knowledge of the 'behaviour' and responses of avian species is limited. It was discussion of Tom's Eagle which kicked off this ramble; well, that and the pompous Popinjay banging on about 'bird strike'. I doubt he could tell a Wedge Tail from a Buzzard if it bit him on the arse. However, it probably matters that pilots have a least a rough working knowledge of the way 'Birds' operate and interact with aircraft. Particularly the larger species; their habitat, habits and 'working patterns'. Watch the Gulls at the beach front working a patch of spilled chips (fries); sure they'll move away, but then – circle back to the food – every time, it comes from hunting, ruthless determination to return, no matter the threat. Proof? Oh, that's easy watch the man at Mascot with the shot gun; he blasts away, the Gulls bugger off – he departs the fix and back troop the birds. You can almost imagine the conversation - “he's back Gladys, best round up the kids” “honestly Charlie, I don't see why we have oblige this ugly machine and noise every hour or so.” - “Just think of it as rent Dear; mutual preservation; come on, two quick laps of the airfield, just the thing before lunch”...........
But, what of the not so obliging? Things like Wedge Tail eagles, Swans, Pelicans, Sea Eagles, Emu's and half a dozen other 'big birds'. Google remains a stalwart friend; their size, weight, habits and much else is all freely available and worth a quiet hour study. Seeing as how the noisy Popinjay has weighed in on a 'bird strike' and the potential hazard to helicopter operations from Wedge Tails, I thought it may be worthwhile to mention some things Google omits from its worthy information pages; from the pilot's perspective. First item – the bird itself – HERE - .
Item next – as you can see, this is a large 'dark' coloured bird with a very large wing span and pretty easy to spot, on the wing. There it hovers, effortlessly watching for prey you could assume; true, but wait, there's more. Nothing in the skies challenges this master of air – nothing; it just ain't scared of you and not about to loose the prime position adopted; often over the same spot – it ain't going to move. See and avoid your responsibility. The bird is hostile to 'invaders' – ask the members of the Darwin model aircraft club (terrific venue) about the carnage as two or three 'Wedgies' decide that the intruder must be seen off; the clumsy attempts to out fly these masters by ground based folk is almost laughable; result – machines shredded, birds doing aerial 'high fives' – wishing they could eat what they've killed. Pelicans another worthy adversary; once prey is spotted from the circling area - and the dive commenced, it is prudent to move aside. Swans, just after take off accelerating through V2 to V4 will rarely alter course – for some very valid aerodynamic reasons; and, it must be remembered that the 'Cob' is particularly fearless and reluctant to give way to an aggressor.
But I have digressed and probably bored the fellahin rigid; all TOM's fault. It was the yarn of his most treasured acquaintance with Wedge Tail that started this ramble (well, that and his 'observations' on our Popinjay's waffle). Many, many years ago, as a young fellah, TOM flew a regular service into a valley, surrounded by some rugged country. One day he spotted the Wedge Tail (WT) parked at altitude over a prominent feature; effortless and amazing (30 knot headwind that day and 'bumpy' low down). The airframe was 'nudged' over a little to get a better look; there they were – eye-ball to eye ball for a fleeting moment. This became a regular event, much anticipated and enjoyed; but, TOM always 'blinked' first and peeled away. The best part of the yarn is the day he had a visiting travel journalist in the right seat; descending through cloud TOM nudged the journo and pointed to a spot on the wind screen “Watch there” and just as they cleared to cloud base – there was TOM's Eagle in a sunbeam, on time, on station – Good morning old friend whispered TOM as the journo sat in stunned silence – until later - “Wow etc. etc” and that journo never forgot the memory until he sadly passed away, a life long friend, still missed to this very day.
Enough – ramble over; with apologies to those who don't 'get it'..
Toot – toot..