Views From The Experts
David Cook
Lightning Researcher, Argonne National Laboratory
A lightning strike on an aircraft normally does not damage the
airplane, although it may leave a burn mark. The lightning energy
travels through the metal skin of the aircraft and sometimes into
other areas of the aircraft. In a few cases the energy has damaged
electronic equipment in the aircraft, but only a few aircraft have
received enough damage to cause a major problem with flying the
plane. The skin of the aircraft can usually dissipate the lightning
energy sufficiently to prevent problems.
Wendell Bechtold, Meteorologist
Forecaster, National Weather Service
Weather Forecast Office, St. Louis (MO)
Lightning can have varying effects on an airplane,
ranging from "no" effect, to severe damage, and even in extremely
rare instances, explosion is fuel tanks. Since the exterior or
"skin" of most aircraft is metal, the electrical charge of the
lightning bolt travels along the surface of the aircraft and exits,
causing only minor damage, such as pits or burns on the skin at the
points of entry or exit. Occasionally the lightning can damage
other parts of an aircraft, such as the electrical or avionics
systems.
Aircraft are required to remain at least 20 miles from
thunderstorms, mainly to protect them from hail and turbulence, but
also from lightning. But those first two components of a
thunderstorm cause much more damage to aircraft than lightning
does.
Larry Krengel
It is unlikely that an aircraft would be struck by lightning. On
the ground it sits on rubber tire (like a car). In the air, it is
not grounded. When lightning strikes an airplane, it is just a
matter of bad luck - being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In
other words, if it happens to be between two points between which
the lightning is already going to strike the current will go
through the airplane.
When it does happen, the consequences can be dire. Electrical
circuits (especially the in the micro-electronics employed in the
most modern systems) are damaged just as a tv or microwave oven
would be. Sometimes, parts of the airplane can be blown off and
holes cut in aluminum. Seldom does a lightning strike cause a
crash, but the potential is there.
Related to this, aircraft can pick up a static
charge by flying through charged air. When they return to the
ground, they can hold the charge for a considerable time sitting on
their rubber tires. A real danger exists if the charge sparks when
refueling. They solves this in two ways. By electrically connecting
the fuel truck and the plane before fueling and by attaching
"static wicks" to the trailing edges of aircraft that allow the
charge to dissipate more quickly.
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Argonne National Laboratory, Division of Educational Programs,
Harold Myron, Ph.D., Division Director.