Two Aer Lingus planes struck by lightning

ian_m

RTE News, Saturday 05 January 2008

Two Aer Lingus planes were grounded for several hours at Shannon Airport this morning after they were both struck by lightning.

Interesting coincidence...

highlydebased

Its happened before coicidentally en route to Shannon

Watch the media tommorow for loads of exaturated bullsh*t...."OMG it was the worst flight ever..!"

etc.

Bob the Builder

Sorry for being a dumbass now, but what damage does get caused to an airplane as it is struck by lightning? I know that it would be grounded anyway for tests but is there anything that needs repair after such an event?

FlutterinBantam

Usually suffers very little damage,but on occasions can have some structural (very minor) Possible effect on the avionics would also be a concern.

These things have to be checked out though.

WexCan

Lightning strikes are reasonably common - I've had two in the past year alone, more before. Aircraft usually gets a quick once over and that's that. Neon-Circles is quite right though, there'll be a huge hubub about it.

EDIT: Just read the article, says the strike was to the nose, in that case it's a bit more serious since there's a lot of gizmos and gadgets under the radome that could get damaged.

*Kol*

WexCan wrote: »

Lightning strikes are reasonably common - I've had two in the past year alone, more before. Aircraft usually gets a quick once over and that's that. Neon-Circles is quite right though, there'll be a huge hubub about it.

EDIT: Just read the article, says the strike was to the nose, in that case it's a bit more serious since there's a lot of gizmos and gadgets under the radome that could get damaged.

Unless the pilots reported anything strange happening to the indications in the cockpit at the time there should be no concern. There may have been a bit of damage where the lightning struck. Probably minor.

*Kol*

ian_m wrote: »

RTE News, Saturday 05 January 2008

Two Aer Lingus planes were grounded for several hours at Shannon Airport this morning after they were both struck by lightning.

Interesting coincidence...

Why is an interesting coincedence?? The Boston and NY flight normally land within half an hour of each other.It's not inconceivable that they could both be struck by lightning?

WexCan

*Kol* wrote: »

Why is an interesting coincedence?? The Boston and NY flight normally land within half an hour of each other.It's not inconceivable that they could both be struck by lightning?

Lightning strikes may be common to a certain extent, but it's unusual for two aircraft, even flying relatively close together, to get hit on.

The fact that it's two EI aircraft, both going to the same place, makes it a coincidence.

ian_m

*Kol* wrote: »

Why is an interesting coincedence?? The Boston and NY flight normally land within half an hour of each other.It's not inconceivable that they could both be struck by lightning?

Its not inconceivable. "...both (aircraft) sustained damage to their noses as they prepared to land."

How often have you seen that happen? And as WexCan said, to two EI aircraft.

*Kol*

It's not unusual that they both got hit on the the same day, same carrier etc etc. This happens all the time. It's just that they both got hit in an area that is visible to the ground crew during the walkaround check on arrival so it made the news. Nothing too spooky!!;)

FlutterinBantam

Roundy, move this to "Semantics" forum:rolleyes:

pclancy

Lol

ian_m

*Kol* wrote: »

It's not unusual that they both got hit on the the same day, same carrier etc etc. This happens all the time. It's just that they both got hit in an area that is visible to the ground crew during the walkaround check on arrival so it made the news. Nothing too spooky!!;)

Sounds like it was coincidental so.

*Kol*

Yep it does:rolleyes:

FlutterinBantam

Did they raise an incident report on it??

ian_m

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Did they raise an incident report on it??

I'm sure we will find out soon enough...

*Kol*

It's not a reportable incident. There would have been no major flight safety concern. No report would be required.

dloob

Had an Aer Lingus flight to Chicago from Shannon delayed last year due to a lightning strike.
They said they had to replace an antenna
I knew it was a bad sign when there were two guys on a hydraulic platform gesticulating at the roof of the airplane.

FlutterinBantam

*Kol* wrote: »

It's not a reportable incident. There would have been no major flight safety concern. No report would be required.

yes there would!!!

The company would raise an internal incident report on it.

JSK 252

Lightening strikes are common enough on the routeway between America and Ireland.

*Kol*

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

yes there would!!!

The company would raise an internal incident report on it.

Honestly I would doubt it. I could be wrong tho!:D As JSK 252 said they are very common and it would not be classified as an incident.

FlutterinBantam

I can guarantee it would be raised as an incident.

Scorching around the nose cone, both a/c delayed in Snn!!!

Take it from the auld Flutther---incident material.

kona

lightenining strikes result in two holes, a entry and a exit, and will always take the easiest route, so experienced engineers can find it quick enough.
now repairing, composite materials on the ramp is another thing altogether, could take 6+ hours.
and yes any incident like this the captain must log in its flight report.
it will also be noted on the aircraft by the engineers

*Kol*

kona wrote: »

lightenining strikes result in two holes, a entry and a exit, and will always take the easiest route, so experienced engineers can find it quick enough.
now repairing, composite materials on the ramp is another thing altogether, could take 6+ hours.
and yes any incident like this the captain must log in its flight report.
it will also be noted on the aircraft by the engineers

Where did you get all of the info above from? I don't wish to be critical, it's generally ok but not 100% accurate.

Just to be clear most lightning strikes will result in two burn marks (rarely holes) one entry/one exit mark. It's not always easy to find both marks. They could be close to each other or not (can be a needle in a haystack job if it's an A330 size aircraft).

Composite repairs on the ramp are nigh on impossible to perform. Try keeping a vacumn bag and heat lamp near a repair on a A330 nose (or any composite part of the aircraft) in the wind and rain for 6+ hours. Normally a temp repair might be performed (high speed tape!!).

kona

*Kol* wrote: »

Where did you get all of the info above from? I don't wish to be critical, it's generally ok but not 100% accurate.

Just to be clear most lightning strikes will result in two burn marks (rarely holes) one entry/one exit mark. It's not always easy to find both marks. They could be close to each other or not (can be a needle in a haystack job if it's an A330 size aircraft).

Composite repairs on the ramp are nigh on impossible to perform. Try keeping a vacumn bag and heat lamp near a repair on a A330 nose (or any composite part of the aircraft) in the wind and rain for 6+ hours. Normally a temp repair might be performed (high speed tape!!).

i do engineering in college, and spent work experience on the line.
electricity will aways take the easy route, true trying to keep a vacuum bag on a plane on the ramp is going to be nigh on impossible, but if it cant be repaired, the can replace the nose, although the fit may be a bit off as all those nose cones are carbon fibre and are unique to a aircraft.
the avionic is another deal altogether.
once its not structural its grand. if it is, bit of a pain tbh!!!
but engineers will be aware of common points of entry and exit.