The “Miracle on the Hudson,” when Capt. Chesley Sullenberger famously ditched his US Airways airliner into the Hudson River after multiple bird strikes, has resulted in a number of safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board, including research on the use of pulsating lights to deter birds. For Scott Philiben, vice president of Bend, Ore.-based Precise Flight, the recommendation was tantamount to his own “Miracle on the Hudson.”
According to a recent Associated Press story, Philiben has been spearheading Precise Flight’s efforts to have its pulsating-light technology — originally designed for enhanced aviation visibility — accepted as a viable, onboard bird-strike deterrent. The story quotes Philben:
“I was thrilled to death. This was probably the crowning point of my career in improving aviation safety. It’s a glowing recommendation for the effort we’ve placed in this technology, and it makes a significant impact on improving safety for the flying public.”
Read the full story here.
