A321-NEO Flight Crew reported encountering a flock of birds at rotation resulting in multiple bird strikes and a return to the departure airport.
Synopsis
A321-NEO Flight Crew reported encountering a flock of birds at rotation resulting in multiple bird strikes and a return to the departure airport.
Narrative
On takeoff and right at rotation a flock of birds flew across the runway. We struck multiple birds; at least 5 across the windshield. The windshield was covered with remains. We notified the tower and told them we were requesting priority handling and needed to return to the field. We got vectors and ran all necessary checklists. We discussed being overweight but then decided we would likely burn enough gas with the vectors and would land underweight. We did the non routine landing checklist and informed the FAs and the pax of the situation and that we would be returning to ZZZ. There were no ECAM indications and all engine and flight control parameters were normal. We did; however; feel a vibration in the rudder pedals thru out the vectoring. After checklists were completed and we were ready to return; we informed ATC and they gave us vector to intercept ILS XXR. We made a normal; underweight; landing and taxied to the gate with no further incidents. AML (Aircraft Maintenance Logbook) entry was made for the multiple bird strikes and the rudder pedal vibration.Cause: A better bird determent system.
Second reporter narrative
At rotation a flock of 10-20 birds flew in front of the aircraft. They hit directly on the radar dome and 5 hit the windshield. Engine indications were normal; but there was a vibration in the rudder pedals. We assumed some may had hit the nose gear doors. We finished the takeoff procedure; ran the QRH; and coordinated our return. We took off overweight for landing; but burnt enough fuel on the downwind to be under landing weight. The rest of the flight was uneventful.We assessed our fitness for duty to do a tail swap and continue to ZZZ1 with the early morning start and reported fatigued.Cause: Keep flocks of birds off airport property.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.