This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Lightning Strikes on Helicopters - Effects, Detection and Avoidance
Technical Paper
1999-01-2398
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Lightning strikes to aircraft have been a threat for many years. Intensified research programs for studying strikes to fixed wing aircraft have increased the knowledge and decreased the dangers of catastrophic effects on these types of aircraft. However, less research has been performed on lightning strikes to helicopters.
Almost every winter some North Sea helicopters are hit by lightning. Some of these strikes cause major damage to rotor blades and other parts of the helicopters, indicating that the design and certification standards for lightning protection is not good enough. Further, the atmospheric conditions at some of the North Sea strikes indicate that the strikes are triggered by the helicopter. Dedicated research programs are required to establish the relationship between atmospheric conditions and triggered lightnings by helicopters.
In the mean time manufacturers must revise their design standard to improve the helicopter damage tolerance. The operators should develop operational procedures for possible reduction of the probability of being struck by lightning, and meteorological authorities should establish ground based lightning strike forecast systems which can give pilots preflight warning of lightning strike probability. Finally, the technology is available today to develop inflight lightning detection and avoidance systems, and the industry should initiate such developments.
Recommended Content
Authors
Citation
Lande, K., "Lightning Strikes on Helicopters - Effects, Detection and Avoidance," SAE Technical Paper 1999-01-2398, 1999, https://doi.org/10.4271/1999-01-2398.Also In
References
- Lightning Strike Incident Report Flight Report, 22.01.85, 15:15 UTC, BV234LR, Helikopter Service 1985
- Goto Y Narita K Komuro H Honma N On the characteristics of winter lightning and thundercloud Atlantic City, USA 1992
- Perala R.A. Triggering of Lightning by Aerospace Vehicles AIAA 26th Aerospace Science Annual Meeting Reno, Nevada, USA January 12-15 1988
- Boulay J-L Triggered and intercepted lightning arcs on aircraft ICOLSE Williamsburg, USA Sept. 1995 ONERA report 1995-164
- Odam G.A.M. Electrostatic charging of aircraft in flight First International Conference on Static Electricity, Vienna 1970
- Odam G.A.M. An experimental automatic wide range instrument to monitor the electrostatic field at the surface of an aircraft in flight RAE Technical Report 69218 1969
- Markson R Development of Airborne Electric Field and Lightning Detection Instrumentation for Aviation Safety Contract N00014-85-C-0707 April 20 1986
- Harris-Hobbs R Giori K Bellmore M Lunsford A Application of Airborne Field Mill Data for Use in Launch Support Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology II 1992
- Dimensions SAFIR Thunderstorm Hazards Now-casting System Dimensions, Ave. Victoire, 13106 Rousset Cedex France 1996.
- LLP Lightning Strike Recording System Lightning Location and Protection USA, and EFI/Statnett, Norway
- BFGoodrich Flight Systems Stormscope Series II Weather Mapping System 2001 Polaris Parkway, Columbus Ohio 43240-2001, USA