US Airways Airbus A320 crash lands into Hudson river

[Konovalov]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5526723.ece

Wow. Looks like some great work by the pilot. Not sure yet if everyone onboard is safe. If they are then it is truly amazing.

[AVGWarhawk]

Yeah, just read this. Completely amazed the aircraft was in one piece along with all the passengers to boot

[SteamWake]

All pax and crew survived.

Pilot deserves a medal !

Now I wonder how the hell there going to get that plane off the bottom of the river.

[Enigma]

Hell of a job, Cap'n

[Linton]

Have a look at the coverage on the Avherald.This is the second serious bird related incident in the last couple of months(Ryanair 737 in Rome being the other one!)

[August]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Now I wonder how the hell there going to get that plane off the bottom of the river.

I don't think that will be a big problem. A barge and crane or two ought to do the job pretty easily.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Here's a dumb question; Couldn't they just put a wire cage or something in fron of the engine nacelle to keep birds from getting in the engines? Or would that limit airflow too much? I assume that there's a reason they don't do that, but I don't know what it is.

[Enigma]

Here's a dumb question; Couldn't they just put a wire cage or something in fron of the engine nacelle to keep birds from getting in the engines? Or would that limit airflow too much? I assume that there's a reason they don't do that, but I don't know what it is.

That would just cause a grated bird to be ingested into the engines.

[Enigma]

It sounds like, and I'm totally guessing here, they ran into a flock of geese, and possibly lost both engines. The A320 is designed to fly without much of a problem on one engine.
Those familiar with the North East know how many geese are in the air at this time of year. (hundreds of thousands). This is, after all, bird strike season to us pilots here in the NE...

Myth - Large aircraft are built to withstand all bird strikes.
Fact - Large commercial aircraft like passenger jets are certified to be able to continue flying after impacting a 4-lb bird, even if substantial and costly damage occurs and even if one engine has to be shut down. However, 36 species of birds in North America weigh over 4 lbs and most of these large birds travel in flocks. About 30% of reported strikes by birds weighing more than 4 lbs to civil aircraft in USA, 1990-2002, involved multiple birds. Even flocks of small birds (e.g., starlings, blackbirds) and single medium sized birds (e.g., gulls, ducks, hawks) can cause engine failure and substantial damage.

Myth - If a bird flies into an engine during takeoff and the engine quits, the airplane will crash.
Fact - Large commercial jets are designed so that if any 1 engine is unable to continue generating thrust, the airplane will have enough power from the remaining engine or engines to safely complete the flight. However, because many birds travel in flocks, there is always a possibility that birds will be ingested into multiple engines.

Bonus Myth – Bird strikes never occur at high altitudes.
Fact – It is true that most strikes occur in the airport environment. About 41% of reported strikes with civil aircraft in USA occur while the aircraft is on the ground during take-off or landing and about 75% of strikes occur at less than 500 feet above ground level (AGL). However, over 1,300 strikes involving civil aircraft at heights above 5,000 feet AGL were reported from 1990-2003. The world height record for a strike is 37,000 feet.

Apparently this A320 was near or just above 3'000agl...

[TarJak]

I saw some footage where ths plane was being towed by a tug boat to the shore so it was still afloat for some time after the landing.

From what I've heard and read it was a controlled landing with the tail striking first and the nose up. Textbook stuff from the pilot!

The main reason for no grille on the engines is that if anything does get stopped it would likely mess up the air intake and cause a loss of power anyway with no way to get rid of it whilst flying.

[Linton]

Here is the avherald reference:http://avherald.com/h?article=41370ebc&opt=0

[PeriscopeDepth]

Awesome work by the pilot. He certainly deserves a bonus, promotion, medal or something!

PD

[longam]

A Shot from a telescope while people were on the wings.



http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/15/new...ash/index.html

[Oberon]

Bloody good job from the pilot, I hope he gets some kind of reward for that landing. Doubt it could have been done any better under the circumstances.

[RickC Sniper]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28679343...mode/1107/s/2/

Some pretty good pictures there.


Great job by the pilot imo.