The Story of Man and Bird in Conflict B i r d S t r i Th k e Cr e a s h mic of the hael Bosto n. k n Ele al ctr a a f a t a s Bird Strike Bird The Crash of the Boston Electra Strike michael n. kalafatas Brandeis University Press Waltham, Massachusetts published by university press of new england hanover and london Brandeis University Press Published by University Press of New England One Court Street, Lebanon NH 03766 www.upne.com © 2010 Brandeis University All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America Designed by Katherine B. Kimball Typeset in Scala by Integrated Publishing Solutions University Press of New England is a member of the Green Press Initiative. The paper used in this book meets their minimum requirement for recycled paper. For permission to reproduce any of the material in this book, contact Permissions, University Press of New England, One Court Street, Lebanon NH 03766; or visit www.upne.com Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data Kalafatas, Michael N. Bird strike : the crash of the Boston Electra / Michael N. Kalafatas. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-58465-897-9 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Aircraft bird strikes—Massachusetts— Boston. 2. Aircraft accidents —Massachusetts— Boston. 3. Electra (Turboprop transports) I. Title. TL553.525.M4K35 2010 363.12(cid:2)465—dc22 2010013165 5 4 3 2 1 Across the veil of time, for the passengers and crew of Eastern Airlines Flight 375, and for my grandchildren: may they fl y in safe skies The bell- beat of their wings above my head. —w. b. yeats, “The Wild Swans at Coole” Contents Preface: A Clear and Present Danger xi 1. Appointment in Samarra 1 2. Crimson Sunset 5 3. Fading October Light 25 4. The Case of the Boston Electra 59 5. Sharing the Skies: The Problems 92 6. Sharing the Skies: The Solutions 131 7. The Making of a Patron Saint 143 Epilogue: Mozart and the Starling 167 Acknowledgments 169 Vital Statistics of the Boston Electra 173 Select Bibliography 175 Illustrations follow page 98