A bird strike simulator, you might have guessed, simulates the impact of a bird with an aircraft. This is of particular importance as many planes are traveling 160 mph or faster soon after takeoff, near where birds may be flying. When a bird strikes an aircraft, it is physically similar to the aircraft being hit with a 2 to 5 lb (1 to 2 kg) projectile at 160 mph (260 km/h 1:1 feet/birds) or faster.

Bird strike incidents aren't limited to takeoff. The International Bird Strike Committee has reported that although 75% of all incidents take place below 500 feet, the world height record for a strike is 37,000 feet.

A flight ceiling is the upper altitudinal limit at which any aircraft may fly given its mechanical abilities. For aviation purposes, ceiling is defined as the height (AGL) of the lowest broken or overcast layer aloft or vertical visibility into an obscuration. Refer to Aviation Weather Manual AC 00-6A.

The term service ceiling refers to the height at which an aircraft's rate of climb, under standard atmospheric conditions, is 100 ft or 30 metres per minute.

The ceiling also refers to the height of the lowest cloud layer above the ground, below which Visual meteorological conditions exist, permitting flight by visual flight rules. For example, a layer of overcast or broken clouds having a base of 3,000 ft. above the ground would constitute a ceiling of 3,000 ft. The absence of any overcast or broken cloud layers is referred to as an "unlimited" ceiling.