Weather Hazards

 Lightning

Have you ever had a flight been delayed or canceled due to weather? This is because weather is an important consideration and potential safety hazard when involved with aviation. Although it is rare, I believe that the weather hazard that poses the greatest threat to aviation is lightning. If struck by lightning, an aircraft can be punctured through the skin of the aircraft which could damage many flight systems, communication and electronic navigation equipment. This outcome basically blinds the pilot by damaging navigation instruments or communications. Without these crucial instruments, the pilot may have a very difficult time getting to their destination potentially risking the lives of everyone on board. Also, nearby lightning can cause permanent damage to the magnetic compass (FAA, n.d).

For lightning to be created,  warmer air needs to be mixed with colder air., resulting in an atmospheric disturbance. When the cold air containing ice mixes with the warm air containing water droplets, they rub together building up static electricity. Also the clouds have a polarity, top of the cloud and the bottom of the cloud. As the negative charge builds up and gets stronger it will then strike and make its way to the opposite charge side of the cloud. This is what we know as lightning (Dunbar, n.d).  Aircraft are typically structurally designed to dissipate the electrical charge from lightning strike overboard (2021). This is done by static wicks often located of the trailing edge of the wings and tails. 

AC 00-24C - thunderstorms - federal aviation administration. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2022, from https://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/ac%2000-24c.pdf

Are thunderstorms dangerous to commercial aircraft? FlightDeckFriend.com | Pilot Jobs | Flight Training | Aspiring Pilots. (2021, January 4). Retrieved August 31, 2022, from https://www.flightdeckfriend.com/ask-a-pilot/are-thunderstroms-dangerous-to-aircraft/

Dunbar, B. (n.d.). How is lightning made? NASA. Retrieved August 31, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/home/F_What_Causes_Lightning_Flash.html