Tropical Lightning Damage on Various Commercial Aircraft Shapes and Sizes

Abstract

Air transportation is fast, connecting one island to another in Indonesia. Due to tropical lightning strike in Indonesia, commercial aircraft can be damaged, even result in fatal accident. This research aims to evaluate the threat and damage to various types of aircraft due to tropical lightning strikes. By analyzing the tropical lightning characteristic, it can be concluded that the characteristics of tropical lightning will increase the flight disturbance. Aside from that, the shape and size of the aircraft affect the risk of an aircraft being struck by lightning. Winglets on aircraft will increase the risk of lightning strikes on the wings. The bigger the plane, the greater the chance of the nose getting hit. On the other hand, the smaller the aircraft, the greater the chance that the body, tail, wings, engine, and HF Transceiver will be damaged by a lightning strike. Lastly, the bigger the plane, the safer it is against the threat of tropical lightning strikes.