Narrative:

Cleared for takeoff. Toga power set. Accelerating through about 80 KTS captain (the PF) noticed a flock of seagulls on the centerline of the runway. The birds began to take flight as we neared; but it became obvious we were going to travel through the group. We hit at least 5 birds; maybe more (audible strike sounds from the forward lower fuselage). The captain initiated a rejected takeoff at about 90-95 KTS (I had just called out 80 KTS -- thrust set). The rejected takeoff was executed exactly as planned (trained). Called tower during deceleration and advised. Made PA for passenger to remain seated (3 times). Cleared the runway; contacted ground; and returned to the gate for maintenance inspection. The issue was whether we had sustained damage. Damaged found: cracked taxi light lens. Spoke with local airport authority/authorized in person (captain) and with mco approach control facility (first officer) -- both to make reports. Conclusion: the birds were too far away to be seen prior to takeoff; the aircraft was light and we were toga -- so the rate of acceleration was extreme (toga planned owing to inclement WX conditions). There was insufficient time to modify the takeoff profile; or for the birds to get out of the way. The decision; I believe; was absolutely the correct and proper one -- and was executed with skill by the captain. After maintenance inspection; and deferral of the taxi light; the flight departed without further excitement. Note: approximately 1 hour prior to our event; a B747 hit a flock of birds on landing on runway 17L -- the WX was causing birds to take to the ground -- and unfortunately often on the runway(south).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 FLT CREW ENCOUNTERS BIRDS DURING TKOF ROLL; REJECTS TKOF AT MCO.

Narrative: CLRED FOR TKOF. TOGA PWR SET. ACCELERATING THROUGH ABOUT 80 KTS CAPT (THE PF) NOTICED A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS ON THE CTRLINE OF THE RWY. THE BIRDS BEGAN TO TAKE FLT AS WE NEARED; BUT IT BECAME OBVIOUS WE WERE GOING TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE GROUP. WE HIT AT LEAST 5 BIRDS; MAYBE MORE (AUDIBLE STRIKE SOUNDS FROM THE FORWARD LOWER FUSELAGE). THE CAPT INITIATED A REJECTED TKOF AT ABOUT 90-95 KTS (I HAD JUST CALLED OUT 80 KTS -- THRUST SET). THE REJECTED TKOF WAS EXECUTED EXACTLY AS PLANNED (TRAINED). CALLED TWR DURING DECELERATION AND ADVISED. MADE PA FOR PAX TO REMAIN SEATED (3 TIMES). CLRED THE RWY; CONTACTED GND; AND RETURNED TO THE GATE FOR MAINT INSPECTION. THE ISSUE WAS WHETHER WE HAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE. DAMAGED FOUND: CRACKED TAXI LIGHT LENS. SPOKE WITH LCL ARPT AUTH IN PERSON (CAPT) AND WITH MCO APCH CTL FACILITY (FO) -- BOTH TO MAKE RPTS. CONCLUSION: THE BIRDS WERE TOO FAR AWAY TO BE SEEN PRIOR TO TKOF; THE ACFT WAS LIGHT AND WE WERE TOGA -- SO THE RATE OF ACCELERATION WAS EXTREME (TOGA PLANNED OWING TO INCLEMENT WX CONDITIONS). THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO MODIFY THE TKOF PROFILE; OR FOR THE BIRDS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. THE DECISION; I BELIEVE; WAS ABSOLUTELY THE CORRECT AND PROPER ONE -- AND WAS EXECUTED WITH SKILL BY THE CAPT. AFTER MAINT INSPECTION; AND DEFERRAL OF THE TAXI LIGHT; THE FLT DEPARTED WITHOUT FURTHER EXCITEMENT. NOTE: APPROX 1 HR PRIOR TO OUR EVENT; A B747 HIT A FLOCK OF BIRDS ON LNDG ON RWY 17L -- THE WX WAS CAUSING BIRDS TO TAKE TO THE GND -- AND UNFORTUNATELY OFTEN ON THE RWY(S).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.