How Modern Aircraft Handle Lightning Strikes

For those who have a fear of flying, the idea of an airplane being struck by lightning can be absolutely terrifying. However, the truth is that lightning strikes are a fairly common occurrence and modern aircraft are well-equipped to handle them.

Believe it or not, commercial airplanes are struck by lightning on average once every 1,000 flight hours, or about once a year. This may seem alarming, but the reality is that modern aircraft are designed to be highly resilient to lightning strikes.

When a lightning bolt makes contact with an airplane, the aircraft essentially becomes a part of the lightning’s path. The lightning travels along the exterior surface of the airplane, utilizing the metal skin as a conductor, and then exits the aircraft, continuing on its journey through the atmosphere.

How Aircraft are Designed to Handle Lightning Strikes

To ensure that aircraft can withstand these strikes, engineers have incorporated a number of safety features into their designs:

1. Conductive materials: The exterior skin of most modern aircraft is primarily made of aluminum, which is a highly conductive material. This allows the lightning’s electrical charge to easily travel along the surface of the plane, minimizing any damage.
2. Static wicks: These small devices are installed on the trailing edges of an airplane’s wings, stabilizers, and other surfaces. Static wicks help to dissipate the electrical charge, allowing it to exit the aircraft without causing damage.
3. Shielded electrical components: Critical electrical systems and components, such as avionics and wiring, are shielded to protect them from lightning-induced electrical surges.
4. Lightning strike protection (LSP): Some aircraft, particularly those with composite materials, incorporate LSP layers within their structures. These layers consist of conductive materials designed to carry lightning currents and protect the underlying composite material from damage.

What Happens Inside the Aircraft During a Lightning Strike?

Passengers and crew inside the aircraft are generally safe during a lightning strike. The conductive aluminum skin of the airplane acts as a Faraday cage, creating an electromagnetic barrier that prevents the lightning’s electrical charge from entering the interior of the plane. As a result, passengers may see a bright flash or hear a loud bang, but they will remain unharmed.

In rare cases, a lightning strike may cause temporary disruptions to the aircraft’s electrical systems or instruments, but these occurrences are typically brief and do not pose a significant risk to the flight’s safety.

While the idea of an airplane being struck by lightning may seem frightening, it’s important to remember that modern aircraft are designed to handle these events with ease. Thanks to the incorporation of conductive materials, static wicks, and other protective measures, passengers and crew can feel confident in their safety even during nature’s most electrifying moments.