EMB 120 FLC DEV. CLRNC INTERP.

Narrative

INITIAL CLRNC WAS FOR ACT 195 DEG RADIAL TO LITLE INTXN (36 DME FROM ACT) AND THEN DIRECT TO ILE. AS THE PNF; I WAS ON COM #2 AND THE CAPT WAS FLYING; HANDLING COM #1. GRAY APCH ISSUED THE CAPT A CLRNC TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 3000 FT AND TO TURN R HDG 240 DEGS. THE CAPT READ BACK THE CLRNC AND PROCEEDED TO FOLLOW THE CLRNC AS I WAS RETURNING FROM COM #2. UPON ROLLING OUT ON THE 240 DEG HDG THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED WHAT AN UNUSUAL VECTOR THIS WAS SINCE WE WERE N OF WHERE THE CTLRS USUALLY TURN US. IN THE PROCESS OF DISCUSSING THIS WE BOTH OBSERVED SPOTTING FLARES FROM THE GND IN FRONT OF US AND A RED TRACER COMING FROM THE GND. NOW REALIZING SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND SUSPECTING THAT RESTR AREA R-6302B WAS 'HOT' WE TALKED TO GRAY APCH TO QUESTION WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT AND APCH IMMEDIATELY ISSUED A 180 DEG HDG. ALSO; PRIOR TO TALKING TO APCH; WE SAW AN OBJECT COMING AT US AND STRIKING THE ACFT; WHICH UPON LNDG AT KILLEEN MUNICIPAL (ILE) A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ACFT WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND WITH NO DAMAGE NOTED; WE DETERMINED IT TO BE A BIRD STRIKE. AFTER TURNING TO THE 180 DEG HDG WE DISCUSSED WITH APCH WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND APCH STATED THAT THE CLRNC WAS A 240 DEG HDG 'UPON DEPARTING' LITLE INTXN. WE DISCUSSED THE INCIDENT BTWN OURSELVES AND WITH GRAY APCH UPON LNDG AT ILE AND WE TOLD THEM IT WAS A SUSPECTED BIRD STRIKE WITH NOTHING ELSE MENTIONED. AS THE CAPT AND I HAVE BOTH LEARNED FROM THIS; THAT EVEN IF ATC ISSUES A CLRNC THAT COULD BE THROUGH A 'COLD' AREA WE WILL TREAT IT AS 'HOT' AND QUESTION ATC. ALSO IF IT WAS NOT DOCUMENTED IN THIS; WE NEVER DID ENTER THE RESTR AREA AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED TO US BY GRAY APCH.