![]() ![]() The highest probability for lightning attachment to an airplane is the outer extremities, such as the wing tip, nose, or rudder. commercial jets showed that most lightning strikes occur between altitudes of 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) and 15,000 feet (4,572 meters). Data was gathered from airlines with 881 strikes reported.įigure 3: Distribution of lightning strikes by altitudeĪ survey of U.S. Anderson Plummer, Lightning Technologies Inc., Aug. Source: Figure 2 is adapted from Airlines Lightning Strike Reports Project: Pilot Reports and Lightning Effects by J. *Sixty-two strikes did not report orientation of clouds during strike event. Most airplane lightning strikes occur when an airplane is flying in clouds. Airplanes that fly short routes in areas with high incidence of lightning activity are likely to be struck more often than long-haul airplanes operating in more benign lightning environments.įigure 2: Airplane lightning strikes by cloud orientation The reason is that lightning activity is more prevalent between 5,000 to 15,000 feet (1,524 to 4,572 meters) altitude (see fig. 3). More jet airplane lightning strikes occur while in clouds, during the climb and descent phases of flight, than any other flight phase (see fig. 2). ![]() Lightning Observations for April 1995 through February 2003įlash Density (flashes/kilometers 2/year) This map shows the global distribution of lightning April 1995–February 2003 from the combined observations of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) optical transient detector (April 1995–March 2000) and land information systems (January 1998–February 2003) instruments. The numbered scale represents lightning flashes per square kilometer per year. It is highest over warm continental areas. Lightning activity is lowest over the oceans and polar areas. Areas of low activity are white, gray, purple, and blue. Areas of highest activity are shown in orange, red, brown, and black. The world lightning map by NASA shows the geographic distribution of lightning (see fig. 1). In the rest of the world, lightning tends to occur most near the equator because the warmth in this region contributes to convection, creating widespread thunderstorms nearly daily. For example, in the United States, parts of Florida average 100 thunderstorm days per year, while most of the West Coast averages only 10 thunderstorm days per year. Lightning activity can vary greatly by geographic location. ![]() The frequency of lightning strikes that an airplane experiences is affected by several factors, including the geographic area where the airplane operates and how often the airplane passes through takeoff and landing altitudes, which is where lightning activity is most prevalent. This article helps maintenance and flight crews understand lightning-strike phenomena and helps operators understand lightning-strike damage inspection requirements and associated effective repairs that improve lightning-strike maintenance efficiency. ![]() Having an understanding of the typical effects of lightning strikes and proper damage inspection procedures can prepare operators to act quickly when a lightning strike is reported to apply the most effective maintenance actions. When commercial airplanes are struck by lightning, the result can range from no damage to serious damage that requires extensive repairs that can take the airplane out of service for an extended period of time. ![]()
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