Air France Jet Crash: Are Commercial Jets Safe Against Lightning?

In summary, the conversation revolved around the Air France jet that crashed in the Atlantic and the speculation that lightning may have been the cause. It was mentioned that lightning strikes on commercial jets are not uncommon and that they are designed to withstand them, but there is still a risk of structural damage and electromagnetic interference. There were also discussions about the accuracy of models for predicting damage from lightning strikes and the difficulty of locating the plane in the vast ocean. Some debris has been found, but it is still uncertain if it is from the crashed plane. There was also speculation that the lightning may have caused electrical problems on the plane, leading to its crash. Overall, more research and investigation is needed to determine the exact cause of the crash.
  • #141
Chilling.
 
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  • #142
russ_watters said:
So it sounds like the cause was faulty speed indication leading to a stall, then pilot error in recovering: http://content.usatoday.com/communi...rance-flight-experienced-35-minute-freefall/1
So I was wrong: the pilot error was much worse. Greg's article basically says that aside from sporadic and not overly serious airspeed indication faults, there was nothing wrong with the plane: nothing affecting it's flyability. The crash was caused by the one co-pilot applying full back pressure to the stick for nearly the entire event and neither the other copilot nor the captain recognizing it (except for a brief moment during the first stall) until it was too late.

All other issues relate to whether the other pilots - or indeed the airplane itself - could have prevented him from flying an airworthy airplane into the ocean. So sad.
 
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  • #143
Somehow, automated warning systems are again being dismissed by humans in control. It seems they were oblivious to the dozens of stall warnings meaning they've come to not trust them somehow. That period where the stall warning went away because of attitude, later to return, while the aircraft was always in stall didn't help.

I see similarities to the subway crash in Washington, DC some months ago: automated signal failure, engineer oblivious, one train crashed into another.
 
  • #144
<h2>1. How often do commercial jets get struck by lightning?</h2><p>On average, commercial jets are struck by lightning once or twice a year. However, due to advanced technology and safety measures, these strikes rarely result in accidents or damage to the aircraft.</p><h2>2. How does lightning affect a commercial jet?</h2><p>When a commercial jet is struck by lightning, the electricity travels along the outer surface of the aircraft and exits through its tail. This does not cause any damage to the aircraft's structure or systems, as they are designed to withstand such strikes.</p><h2>3. What safety measures are in place to protect commercial jets from lightning?</h2><p>Commercial jets are equipped with a lightning protection system, which includes metal conductors along the exterior of the aircraft that safely direct the lightning's energy away from the aircraft. Additionally, the fuel tanks are designed to prevent explosions in case of a lightning strike.</p><h2>4. Can lightning cause a commercial jet to crash?</h2><p>While a lightning strike can be a frightening experience for passengers, it is highly unlikely to cause a commercial jet to crash. As mentioned, the aircraft's structure and systems are designed to withstand lightning strikes, and pilots are trained to handle such situations.</p><h2>5. Is it safe to fly during a thunderstorm?</h2><p>Yes, it is generally safe to fly during a thunderstorm. Commercial jets are equipped to handle lightning strikes and pilots are trained to navigate through severe weather. However, for the safety and comfort of passengers, pilots may choose to divert the flight path to avoid areas of severe weather.</p>

1. How often do commercial jets get struck by lightning?

On average, commercial jets are struck by lightning once or twice a year. However, due to advanced technology and safety measures, these strikes rarely result in accidents or damage to the aircraft.

2. How does lightning affect a commercial jet?

When a commercial jet is struck by lightning, the electricity travels along the outer surface of the aircraft and exits through its tail. This does not cause any damage to the aircraft's structure or systems, as they are designed to withstand such strikes.

3. What safety measures are in place to protect commercial jets from lightning?

Commercial jets are equipped with a lightning protection system, which includes metal conductors along the exterior of the aircraft that safely direct the lightning's energy away from the aircraft. Additionally, the fuel tanks are designed to prevent explosions in case of a lightning strike.

4. Can lightning cause a commercial jet to crash?

While a lightning strike can be a frightening experience for passengers, it is highly unlikely to cause a commercial jet to crash. As mentioned, the aircraft's structure and systems are designed to withstand lightning strikes, and pilots are trained to handle such situations.

5. Is it safe to fly during a thunderstorm?

Yes, it is generally safe to fly during a thunderstorm. Commercial jets are equipped to handle lightning strikes and pilots are trained to navigate through severe weather. However, for the safety and comfort of passengers, pilots may choose to divert the flight path to avoid areas of severe weather.

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