

Ask Tom Why

August 04, 2006|By Tom Skilling

Dear Tom, Lightning is bad enough on the ground, so what problems does it pose to jets in the air?

Ron Dvorak, Chicago

Dear Ron,

Nothing significant, but a lightning bolt threatens aircraft in two ways.

Because it can cripple the craft's electronic equipment, special shielding around all sensitive equipment eliminates that potentially dangerous situation.

Physical damage to the aircraft is also a threat and University of Florida lightning expert Dr. Vladimir Rakov tells us that lightning-caused plane crashes, while rare, are not unheard of.

Rakov explains that "On average, lightning strikes a commercial jet once for every 10,000 hours in the air, but most strikes cause no significant damage because the lightning current flows harmlessly across the metal skin of the aircraft."



