According to Boeing’s statistics, a single airplane is struck by lightning on average twice a year. So, does that mean it’s still safe when it happens? Let’s find out together with Incheon Airport!

📌 Key Point

Most aircraft are designed to protect against lightning strikes during flight, making them safe.

The Faraday Cage Effect

Airplanes are built with duralumin, an aluminum alloy that conducts electricity very well. When lightning strikes, the electric current is immediately discharged into the air.

If the material had poor conductivity, the current could accumulate at certain points and cause damage.

This principle of discharging strong currents into the atmosphere is known as the Faraday Cage Effect. It’s based on the law that “the inside of a conductive enclosure is protected from external electric currents.”

It’s similar to how a bird inside a cage remains unharmed even if electricity flows along the cage’s wires.

Airplanes are designed in the same way: when lightning strikes, the current disperses along the aircraft’s surface and into the air, keeping the cabin and onboard electronic devices completely safe.

Lightning Protection System

When lightning strikes an airplane, it usually enters through the nose or wing tips.
The current then travels along the aircraft’s surface and typically exits through the tail or opposite wing tip.

To ensure that high-voltage current does not affect the fuel tanks or instruments, airplanes are equipped with a Lightning Protection System. This includes discharge wicks, similar to lightning rods, mounted on the wings and tail. They safely release the electricity into the atmosphere.

These wicks also prevent static electricity from building up. When particles such as dust, rain, snow, or ice hit the aircraft surface, static electricity can occur, which in severe cases may cause communication interference.

The discharge wicks at the wing tips and tail help disperse this static electricity into the air, ensuring the safety of the aircraft.

If you found today’s post <Curious About Incheon Airport! Is It Safe When Airplanes Get Struck by Lightning?