Current usually travels over the outer skin
Metal structures conduct electricity naturally, while composite aircraft use conductive meshes and bonding paths. The design goal is to keep high current away from vulnerable internal systems.
Fuel tanks receive special protection
Designers control ignition sources, bonding and lightning paths around tanks and vents. Fuel-system certification is especially rigorous because a spark in the wrong place could have severe consequences.
Electronics are shielded against electrical effects
Wiring, computers and sensors are protected from induced currents and electromagnetic interference. Redundancy also helps ensure that one damaged channel does not remove critical capability.
Pilots still avoid severe thunderstorms
Lightning tolerance does not make storm penetration desirable. Thunderstorms can contain hail, turbulence, wind shear and heavy precipitation, which are separate hazards from the electrical discharge itself.
A strike can leave small physical marks
Entry and exit points may show burns, pits or damage to static wicks and surface components. Maintenance crews inspect suspected areas and repair them according to the aircraft manual.
The event is usually more dramatic to passengers than to the aircraft
Cabin occupants may see the flash and hear noise, while cockpit indications remain normal. The crew’s response is based on system status and operating procedures rather than the visual spectacle.
Airliners are designed to conduct lightning around the structure
A strike usually enters at one point and exits elsewhere while current travels through conductive paths around the aircraft.
Composite structures need engineered protection
Modern carbon-fiber components do not conduct electricity exactly like traditional aluminum, so designers add meshes, bonding and other protection.
Fuel systems receive particular attention
Certification addresses ignition risk around tanks, vents and fuel-system components because a spark in the wrong place could be serious.
Crews inspect after suspected strikes
Maintenance may check entry and exit points, antennas, radomes and systems before the aircraft returns to service.
Passengers may see a flash or hear a bang
The event can be dramatic without causing a dangerous loss of control. The aircraft's protection is designed around exactly this type of exposure.
Avoidance is still preferable around thunderstorms
Lightning is only one hazard inside convective weather. Severe turbulence, hail and wind shear are stronger reasons for crews to keep distance from active cells.
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