Weather Hazards
May 16, 2023The Increasing Threat of Lightning in Aviation
It's no secret that the safe operation of aircraft heavily relies on the avoidance of any weather hazards that may be encountered throughout a typical flight. Some of these hazards include rain, snow, hail, and what I feel like is the biggest meteorological threat to aircraft; lightning. I chose this topic because of how climate change is being claimed as an influencer behind weather phenomena we see today.
Fortunately in modern day, the aviation world is equipped with accurate lightning detection and lightning protection devices that aid in the safe operation of aircraft. However as the world notices an increase in greenhouse gasses, we begin to witness an increase in the percentage of lightning strikes that happen daily. Neal (2021) explains how we will see a 50% increase in the number of strikes by the end of the century. While we see an increase in the rate of lightning, we also should beg the question of how we continue supporting safe flight or at least slow down what some consider the combined contribution to "global warming".
Lightning is already negatively affecting the aviation industry in a big way. While providing a vast amount of energy, lightning is capable of the destruction of runways, aircraft, Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities, and even individual lives as seen at Marine Corps Air Station New River in 2017 when U.S. Marine mechanics in an MV-22 Osprey were exiting the aircraft when it was struck by lightning. One of the mechanics was ruled brain dead five days later (Veillette, 2023).
Neal, N. (2021). How Lightning is Affected by Climate Change. Environment Journal.
https://environmentjournal.online/climate-change/the-future-is-not-forecast-how-lightning-is- affected-by-climate-change/
Veillette, P. (2023). Increased Lightning Will Affect Aviation, Part 1. Aviation Week.
https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/safety-ops-regulation/increased-lightning-will-affect- aviation-part-1
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