A friend of mine called me last week and told me that he had been working on the development of conceivable ways and means that hopefully, once and for all, would eliminate a world-wide problem plaguing the airline industry: birds flying into airplane engines with dire consequences.
The concept had great merit and the longer I listened, the more mesmerized I became. I made an appointment with him to get the salient facts and figures for an article for you Readers and the industry as well, hopefully to attract potential contributors to the solution.
Airport Protection System:
Currently, at this point in time, a Runway Lighting System is activated 24 hours per day, lining the runways of major airports in the U. S. and it is mandatory.
Birds, of course, flock and congregate at the ends of the runways and are airborne at these points. To eliminate this dreaded situation, it is expressly recommended herewith, that every other light on the runways have a built-in horn disc device, so-to-speak, of high intensity, emanating from every other light. This intense magnification creates a “scrambling” effect in bird flocks and they fly harmlessly out of the way of incoming or departing aircraft.
Importantly, there is an existing standard approach pattern” (known as “Glide Slope,” coming into all major airports, beginning approximately 80-l00 miles distant from airports.
The installation of these effective high intensity disc devices could be installed in all aircraft as well, eliminating these bird flock incidents from occurring anywhere in transit, from point of departure to point of destination. Installation in aircraft poses no problem what-so-ever.
Aircraft speed is generally approximately 350-375 miles per hour and the speed of sound is 720 miles per hour. Therefore bird flocks would be dispersed long before reaching the aircraft. On final approach, this device will sound off, giving birds ample time to disperse.
There is so much anxiety and panic voiced in our culture lately, concerning flying as a means of traveling and the grave risks involved, the production and implementation of this “horn effect” disc device into planes and airports will prove to be a mental godsend to air transportation travelers throughout the world and the airlines.
In closing, my friend is contemplating “horn effect” manufacturers (foreign), to produce these units to various specifications. However, in the event any of you Readers or your friends would be interested in producing these units domestically and possess or have access to production facilities, please contact Franklin Industries at 549-33l7.
(Dick Halverson is a private citizen who lives in Newcastle. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Lincoln County News.)
