U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Cadets at the Air Force Academy are working to put a dent in bird strikes linked to the deaths of 250 people in 25 years and at least $700 million in damage to aircraft each year.
Cadets are testing the potential aircraft noise, Canada geese distress calls and flashing landing lights may have in scaring off the birds weighing as much as 18 pounds that can strike aircraft like feathery cannonballs.
Senior capstone director Capt. Jeffrey Newcamp said the wild birds pose big problems for pilots, recalling Academy graduate and retired U.S. Airways Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger who safely landed an Airbus 320 aircraft on the Hudson River after it was struck by a flock of Canada geese in January 2009.
"The bird strike dropped both engines off line," Newcamp said.
“Sully’s” landing serves as the cadets' case study and inspiration for the capstone.
The testing, part of the two-semester capstone design course sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, includes simulated engine noise from an Airbus 320 passenger jet engine and Canada geese distress calls, said systems engineering manager Cadet 1st Class Dan Gieck.
"The other element included in the testing is landing lights from an Airbus 320,” he said.
Newcamp said the cadets hope to partner with the Federal Aviation Administration in 2014 after testing their system on smaller aircraft.
Testing takes place at the Academy and in Monument.