FORT ATKINSON, Wisc., - Every year, the world sees about 16 million thunderstorms, and there are nearly 2,000 storms in progress at any given moment worldwide. Given the global frequency of such storms — and lightning being responsible for up to an estimated 24,000 deaths per year globally — it should not come as a surprise that lightning can have a significant impact on the aviation industry, Roland Holle reports for Aviation Pros. Continue reading original article.
The Intelligent Aerospace take:
June 28, 2021 - From aircraft damage, avionics interference and engine shutdown to pilot incapacitation, inefficient airport operations and staff safety-related risks, lightning can have a wide range of negative impacts on air travel. Although lightning activity can vary by geographic location, experts estimate that each airplane in the U.S. commercial fleet is struck by lightning every 1,000 hours of flight — or about once per aircraft per year. While the last confirmed commercial plane crash in the U.S. directly attributed to lightning occurred in the ’60s, the threat of lightning can still bring airport operations to a grinding halt — and put safety at risk.
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Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace
