On Jan 19, 6:21*pm, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
On Jan 19, 8:08*am, Andy wrote:

Why didn't he take immediate evasive action?

When you're driving, never swerve for small- to medium-sized wildlife.
Swerving may just take you through their altered vector, and is likely
to make you lose control. I imagine that flying an A320 is similar to
driving in this respect.

Sure, you're not going to spin out and take a trip through the weeds
(unless you're flying an Airbus and break the vertical fin off, that
is). But thrashing a bunch of folks around the cabin is not likely to
add much to the situation, and is likely to be counterproductive if
you happen to need the passengers' cooperation in order to conduct an
orderly evacuation.


We have had Canada Geese VERY close (few ft) several times just after
liftoff, while towing in Colorado, which REALLY came to mind when I
watched all the rescue efforts of the Airbus. I figure a 10-15 lb
bird would play havoc with a tow plane prop or a glider. Elk on the
runway are a problem, too. I carry a small airhorn (like a person
might have in a boat or at a ball game) in my glider in case the elk
wander onto the runway in the evening while I'm landing. Not sure how
effective it might be, but they DO react to noise and run. A 1200 lb
elk on the ground would be equally devastating as a 15 lb goose at 50
ft.to my Ventus. Any kind of wildlife and moving vehicles (including
aircraft) just don't mix very well.