Patent ID: 7871455

Claim:
A jet engine protection system for an aircraft comprising: a. a sensor sub-system positioned on said aircraft, adapted to scan an area of interest in front of said aircraft, adapted to detect a flying bird having a size greater than a predetermined size, adapted to detect whether said flying bird is within a predetermined range of said aircraft, adapted to generate bird characteristics signals representative of said flying bird and adapted to transmit said flying bird characteristics signals to a digital processor; b. a threat evaluation sub-system comprising said digital processor and an algorithm implemented in said processor, said algorithm adapted; (1) to evaluate said flying bird characteristics signals; (2) to evaluate aircraft flight characteristics signals of said aircraft while in flight; (3) to determine a threat level associated with a risk of collision said flying bird with said jet engine; (4) to determine whether said threat level is greater than a predetermined threat level; (5) to generate control output signals if said threat level is greater than said predetermined threat level; and, (6) to transmit said control output signals to an active defensive mechanism; c. said active defensive mechanism attached on said aircraft and adapted to move from a retracted position to an extended position in front of said jet engine upon receipt of said output control signals, and, wherein said active defensive mechanism includes an inflatable bag made of an aramid mounted on said jet engine and adapted to extend from an un-inflated condition to an inflated condition upon activation of said defensive mechanism and then to extend momentarily in front of said jet engine.