What happens if lightning strikes a plane

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What happens when lightning strikes a plane? A: Lightning strikes will usually leave small burn marks or holes at the entry and exit point. Airplanes are designed to allow lightning to move along the skin of the airplane without doing damage. Occasionally, a static wick will be the victim of lightning exiting the airplane.

I have been in airplanes that have sustained lightning strikes several times with very little damage. Q: When lightning strikes an airplane, are you safer in the air or on the ground? There was a cold front moving into Philadelphia with thunderstorm and lightning potential in the flight path.

According to the aircraft accident report by the Civil Aeronautics Board, the aircraft was in a holding pattern when it was struck by lightning. The plane caught fire and a large portion of the left wing was separated as the plane went down. An aircraft accident due to lightning is a rare event despite how many times one plane can be struck. Lightning usually strikes an aircraft on a sharp edge like the wing, nose or antennas.

The electricity then flows through the wiring and exits the tail of the plane. An airplane in commercial service is hit by heavenly jolts of energy on average once per year.

However, the frequency by which a specific airplane will get hit depends on several factors. These include how many take-offs and landings the aircraft performs, as lightning activity is more prevalent between 5, and 15, feet. It is also dependant on geographical factors. For example, it is much more common around the equator than in the Nordics and Florida vs.

While some travelers may feel that this would be an unpleasant experience, modern jetliners are designed to cope with lightning strikes. They go through specific lightning tests to make sure they can withstand hits as part of their certification. Most incidents are over in, well, a flash. Aluminum leads current. Lightning will usually hit a protruding part of the plane, such as the nose or the tip of the wing.

The aircraft then flies through the lightning flash, which travels along the body, having chosen the path of least resistance. The fuselage acts like a Faraday cage, protecting the inside of the plane while the voltage moves along the outside of the container. Of course, these days, there are many aircraft in the skies that are constructed from a mix of composite parts and metal. Energy and electric charge from the lightning bolt run around the outside of the vessel, protecting the interior from any voltage.

Newer airliners like the Boeing and the Airbus A are made with a higher proportion of composite materials like carbon fibers, resulting in a reduced electrical conductivity of the fuselage and wings, says Hansman. When air operators route around stormy areas, it is to prevent turbulence or possible external damage caused by things like hail rather than to avoid lightning. Contact us at letters time. Erik Simonsen—Getty Images.