New Bird Ingestion Test Rule for Aircraft Stems from ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Accident | Aviation International News

Bird Ingestion Test Rule Stems from ‘Miracle on Hudson’

FAA bird ingestion certification test requirements were updated to ensure turbofan engines can ingest the largest medium flocking bird without a failing.

By Gordon Gilbert • Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

April 5, 2023

A new final rule revising FAR Part 33 bird ingestion certification test requirements ensures that modern-day turbofan engines can ingest the largest medium flocking bird (MFB) into the engine core during climb or approach conditions without an engine failure. The rule traces its roots back to the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

On Jan. 15, 2009, a US Airways Airbus A320 struck a flock of Canada geese at 2,800 feet during climb-out from New York LaGuardia Airport. Both of the airplane’s engines ingested at least two birds, substantially damaging both engine cores and causing total thrust loss. The captain, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, was able to glide the aircraft to a safe ditching in the Hudson River, with all 155 aboard rescued.

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