B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Equipment / Tooling; Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy; Procedure
Because of the temperature and snow condition we had a hold over time of 10-20 min. We called Dispatch to ask if we could get deiced near the only active runway; but were told we had to use the company deice on the ramp because we don't have a contract with the ZZZ airport for deicing. We already asked ATC for a closer runway to make hold over time and we were told the only available Runway  was XYZ and to expect a lengthy delay. After we began taxi ATC offered us Runway X with no delay but it had not been used for 40 min. We accepted. We had a V1 of 122 and VR of 138. At approximately 125 kts and after the V1 call we saw an extremely large flock of birds on the runway. Estimated at 500-1000 birds; covering the last 6000 feet of runway. They lifted off as we rotated. It sounded like popcorn as we struck dozens of them. The aircraft continued climbing normally and the engines were normal. We contacted Dispatch and did not notice any abnormality. We were told to continue. As we transitioned to high speed/altitude we noticed a severe vibration in both yolks and rudder peddle sets. We advised ATC and returned to ZZZ. Upon landing we noted dozens of bird strikes on the wind screens; pitot tubes; engine inlets; fan blades; flaps; fuselage; gear doors; and bottom of the wings. Maintenance noted feathers in the left engine stator blades. ZZZ ops informed us that the runway was closed after our pirep; no other aircraft departed after us; and wildlife management collected over two dozen dead birds off the runway. If we would have a contract in place to allow us to deice near the runway this incident would never have happened. As a line pilot I'm starting to feel we are shifting to a profit first mentality. The fact that the company does not have a contract with ZZZ airport for deicing is the driving force in this incident. When the weather is low/snowy the ZZZ airport only uses the XY's for takeoff. With cold temperatures causing 20 minute maximum holdover times; a taxi can not be made within that time; unless deice would occur closer to the active runway. Stop risking my life by not providing me the tools required to operate safely.Put safety first; and do what it needed to make sure crews can choose the safest action; by using the active; safest; runway. Stop risking my life to save money. I feel I have the right to know the name of the person who caused this near catastrophic accident. Who decided that we don't need additional deice capability in a snow prone airport that can have 3+ mile taxis on snow covered taxiways?
B767-300 First Officer reported departing on an unused available runway to avoid exceeding their hold over time. In doing so; the crew encountered a flock of birds and returned to departure airport as a precaution.