Can't airlines put a grate on engines fans that won't allow it to suck up birds and cause crashes?

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Ruin

sounds like a good idea but would be hard to put into use.

it would restrict the air flow and pick up other debris.

and how would you keep it from getting sucked into the engine?
the power is unbelievable.

keagkid101

I guess, but that would leave limited access to clean the engines and matinence them.

Gerald J

They were just talking about that on CNN International, grates can easily get clogged which can reduce airflow to the engines and not allow the engines to perform properly.

aflumpire

oh no, that would actually make it worse!!

decresed airflow, more rubbish picked up and a bird hitting an engine at the speed could break anything!

the engine blades are not made of plasticine - they are very strong!!!

kuhnem

You'd think so, wouldn't you.

Zorak

It sounds too simple to work. In theory it seems like it would-but there must be some reason why it wont or else it seems like someone would have came up with that by now.

gromit801

The MiG-29 the other poster is talking about, have a shutter system that closes the main air intakes while the plane is resting on it's landing gear. They're designed for dirt runways if necessary. When they are closed, secondary intakes on top of the fuselage open allowing enough airflow to start the engines, and take off. The moment the MiG leaves the ground, and the weight is off the gear, the secondary intakes close the and main intakes open.

That's not going to work for an airliner, don't you think?

The poster talking about engine airflow is entirely correct.

Lurkily

Check pictures of a Mig WHAT? Mig 15? 21? 27, 31, 35? There are many varied designs, and not all of them have the engine intakes you seem to be imagining.

Additionally, if a bird hits that grate at speed, that grate is just going to go into the engine with the bird. It'll also take much, much less dirt and debris to clog the engine, in addition to making the engine vulnerable to frozen water condensate which may clog the grate.

Finally, if that grate were intact after birdstrike, it would not save the engine. It would just provide dozens of bits of cubed bird to destroy the engine with. It doesn't take that much.

boo time

a grate would disrrupt the air flow and the vortex that is needed to feed air into the engine... funny my best friend ask me that same question last week. but really even somethinf extrmely smaller than a bird can get sucked up and cause engine failure as well... thats why they usually have 2 or more engines... well that reason and for more thrust

Whatever

Russians have been doing that for years.Check pics of Migs.

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