Detail View: Birds on Radar intersecting Flight 1549

For more info: http://www.exosphere3d.com/pubwww/pages/project_gallery/cactus_1549_hudson_ri...

Raw radar data detail view displaying the bird flock motion and flightpath of Cactus Flight 1549. The intrail aircraft, Eagle Flight 4718 nearly intersected the flock of birds that took down Flight 1549. The motion of the flock is clearly visible in primary radar returns (reflectivity only). Dispersion of the birds following the event and the subsequent reorganization is apparent.

A similar event occured in November 2009 at KCI involving Frontier Flight 820, the radar data reveals much the same in that incident: http://exosphere3d.com/pubwww/pages/project_gallery/frontier_flight_820_bird_...

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• avian radar
• flight 1549
• bird strike
• data
• asr-9
• asr-11
• aircraft radar
• bird radar
• bird tracking

[mat1500]

As a former professional turbine pilot, who was lucky and sharp eyed enough, to avoid large bird strikes, I believe the dislikes above were all large birds, like turkeys, geese, etc., who disliked this one sided video, they think it's a conspiracy out to get them, and are waiting for the historically revised bird supporters version to come out from their many bird brain friends in Hollywood!

[exosphere3d]

@TheOutThereSomewhere This is a timelapse depiction of the actual raw radar data. Though it seems unlikely, it is indeed true that birds (especially in large flocks) can reflect enough radar energy to create a "primary return". In viewing the data in timelapse, there are a number of flocks in the area that are clearly distinguished based on the fact that they are linear trending and at an appropriate airspeed. We reviewed data for another birdstrike incident (KCI) and found the same results.

[Joshilini]

Not only did they hit birds, 1549 nearly hit a second lot of birds (although we can't really see what altitude the second lot of birds were at) and also another aircraft (N461SA).

[decapitatespammers]

Dizzying to watch. Nice job.

[ra4king]

wow