Have you ever been curious about what happens when lightning strikes an airplane? It’s a common question, and some people might even feel a little nervous about the potential dangers. But don’t worry, the reality is much less scary than you might think!
Lightning strikes on airplanes happen more often than you might realize. In fact, it’s estimated that each airplane is struck by lightning at least twice a year. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a big commercial plane or a smaller private one – lightning can strike any type of aircraft.
But not all planes fly near storm clouds with lightning activity. Smaller planes, like single-engine ones, usually avoid stormy areas. And commercial planes try to steer clear of severe storm clouds that could be dangerous. Pilots and air traffic controllers work hard to keep planes away from bad weather whenever possible.
Airplanes have been getting struck by lightning for as long as they’ve been flying. Aviation engineers have been studying ways to protect planes from lightning strikes for decades. When lightning strikes an airplane, it usually just passes through without causing any major damage. Sometimes there might be some minor damage, like chipped paint or a small dent in the fuselage, but nothing that would make the flight unsafe.
So how does lightning work? Inside a cloud, particles of water and ice move around and create positive and negative charges. The bottom of the cloud becomes negatively charged and the top becomes positively charged. This creates positive charges on the ground below. When the electrical buildup gets strong enough, lightning happens – it’s an intense burst of electromagnetic radiation caused by an electric discharge.
When an airplane flies through a storm cloud, it can become a conductor for the lightning. The positive and negative charges on the surface of the airplane are like the charges inside the cloud. When the airplane enters an area with similar charge separation, the charges try to equalize and lightning can travel from the airplane to the cloud or the ground.
But don’t worry – airplanes are designed to be safe during lightning strikes. They act like Faraday cages, which means that the lightning’s energy travels along the outside of the airplane and doesn’t concentrate inside. Lightning likes to discharge from pointed surfaces, like the wings or nose of an airplane, and modern airplanes are built to safely handle this discharge.
In fact, there have been several recent news stories about airplanes landing safely during lightning storms. Engineers are also constantly working on new ways to protect airplanes from lightning strikes, such as developing new joint technologies for composite aircraft structures.
Modern airplanes are made with new materials, like composite materials that you can find in planes like the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350. These materials need special protection against lightning strikes. Engineers have come up with a clever solution – they put a copper mesh inside the composite structure to act as a grounding conductor. This mesh helps the lightning’s energy safely dissipate.
But what if lightning strikes an airplane’s fuel tank? Don’t worry, modern airplanes are designed to be very safe. There have been accidents in the past, like the 1963 PanAm Flight 214 accident, but airplane technology has come a long way since then. Fuel tanks are built to minimize the chance of ignition, and there are safety systems in place to stop fires from starting.
If you’re on an airplane and it gets struck by lightning, you might see a bright flash or feel a little vibration. But there’s no need to be scared – everything is under control. The pilots might notice some small changes in their instruments, and they’ll report it to air traffic control. When the plane lands, the maintenance crew will check for any damage. If there is any damage, it’s usually very minor and can be fixed during scheduled maintenance.
Airplanes have many other safety features that you might not even know about. For example, did you know that airplanes still have ashtrays even though smoking is banned? That’s because if someone does try to sneak a smoke in the bathroom, there needs to be a safe place for them to put out their cigarette⁷. And did you know that pilots have their own secret bedroom on long-haul flights? It’s usually located behind the cockpit and above first class⁷.
So don’t worry about lightning strikes when you’re flying. Airplanes are designed to handle them safely, and the risk is very low. The next time you’re on a flight and you see storm clouds outside, just sit back and relax – your airplane is well-equipped to handle whatever Mother Nature throws its way!