Terrified of flying in lightening!?

Question

I am flying in two days time and it is calling for heavy thunder and lightening storms in Toronto on that night. I hate flying as it is and I am wondering if I should just cancel my flight. I was in a bad lightening storm in an airplane years ago and it was terrifying and I never forgot it. I do not want to go through this again. Yet, I want to see my family members in Toronto. What can I do? Any advice appreciated and thanks!!

Answer 1

you just have to go in and do it, forget about everything.

I never been on a plane but I will soon when I go to Mexico, and i don't even know yet how I'll feel when that day comes.. .

Answer 2

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but all commercial airliners get hit by lightening but that is also good news when is the last time any airliner was knocked out of the sky by lightening. The worst thing is the loud thunder and the winds.

The pilots and ATC usually divert around the worst of the storms and the sky may get a little lumpy but try not to worry. It is easy for me to say that and that I've flown many times in storms but you will have to make up your own mind to believe me or not. I've flown over storms at night and in the day and the night time ones are spectacular and worth seeing but again I'm not you.

BTW where are you getting your information Toronto's forcast is for thunder storms on Aug 14. Check the source below and look for Toronto

Answer 3

Well I'm in Toronto right now and I can assure you that we can't be certain there is going to be thunderstorms tonight, let alone in two days.

Secondly, airplanes are specifically equipped to withstand lightning strikes. If lightning strikes an airplane, it simply passes along the outer skin and either to the ground or
to another cloud.

Thirdly, in severe weather conditions, airplanes navigate around thunderstorms. Very rarely, if ever, are they compelled to go through a cell of thunderclouds.

Fourth - Thunderstorms are an event that last, at most, 15 minutes. If there are thunderstorms threatening the immediate vicinity of an airport, the planes are directed away from landing and into holding positions. They simply go out and circle over Lake Ontario until the airport has determined that the conditions are suitable to land.

Answer 4

Hello,
Well at 30,000+ Feet you are above clouds that form lightning and rain. It may seem that the lightning is close to you but it actually below and far away.

Lightning forms at clouds at 20-25 thousand feet. I wouldnt be worried. If you are scared close the window and close your eyes. Airplanes also have 1 - 2 seats without windows.

Or just look at your feet and listen to music. Or read a book. Just dont face windows. If thunder scares you then just try your hradest to ignore it.

I highly suggest you try to go to sleep!

There hasnt been any plane related accidents do to lightning.

Answer 5

Hi there,

I live in the Toronto are and I had no idea they were calling for that. However, I would suggest you take some Gravol and try to rest during the flight. Close the window and try to sleep the flight away. Gravol does that to most people. Maybe you can see a Dr. and get a mild medication that will help to calm your nerves.

Good luck and I hope you can make it to the area to see your family!

Edit: spelling on Gravol thanks to Willoughby Belch! :)

Answer 6

I fly as a passenger often enough to fly also in bad weather and like you, I feel nervous too.
I wait for cancellations and if does not happen , I just assume that there is nothing to worry about.
There is bad weather practically all over the world , lightning ,rain, snow, ice ? Of all those I listed, I think I worry about landing on ice the most.
Lightning?- nah. All planes have anti lightning protection.
Here is a refresher from a company that explains the process well.
===================================
How is an aircraft protected from lightning?

Most aircraft skins are made primarily of aluminum, which is a very good conductor of electricity. By making sure that there are no gaps in this conductive path, the engineer can assure that most of the lightning current will remain on the exterior skin of the aircraft. Some modern aircraft are made of advanced composite materials, which by themselves are significantly less conductive than aluminum. In this case, the composites are made with an embedded layer of conductive fibers or screens designed to carry lightning currents. These designs are thoroughly tested before they are incorporated in an aircraft.

Modern passenger jets have miles of wires and dozens of computers and other instruments that control everything from the engines to the passengers' music headsets. These computers, like all computers, are sometimes susceptible to upset from power surges. So, in addition to the design of the exterior of the aircraft, the lightning protection engineer must assure that no damaging surges or transients can be induced into the sensitive equipment inside of the aircraft. Lightning traveling on the exterior skin of an aircraft has the potential to induce transients into wires or equipment beneath the skin. These transients are called lightning indirect effects. Problems caused by indirect effects in cables and equipment are averted by careful shielding, grounding and the application of surge suppression devices when necessary. Every circuit and piece of equipment that is critical or essential to the safe flight and landing of an aircraft must be verified by the manufacturers to be protected against lightning in accordance with regulations of the FAA or a similar authority in the country of the aircraft's origin.

The other main area of concern is the fuel system, where even a tiny spark could be disastrous. Therefore, extreme precautions are taken to assure that lightning currents cannot cause sparks in any portion of an aircraft's fuel system. The aircraft skin around the fuel tanks must be thick enough to withstand a burn through. All the structural joints and fasteners must be tightly designed to prevent sparks as lightning current passes from one section to another. Access doors, fuel filler caps and any vents must be designed and tested to withstand lightning. All the pipes and fuel lines that carry fuel to the engines, and the engines themselves, must be verified to be protected against lightning. In addition, new fuels that produce less explosive vapors are now widely used.

Radomes are the nose cones of aircraft that contain radar and other flight instruments. The radome is an area of special concern for lightning protection engineers. In order to function, radar cannot be contained within a conductive enclosure. Protection is afforded by the application of lightning diverter strips along the outer surface of the radome. These strips can be solid metal bars or a series of closely spaced buttons of conductive material affixed to a plastic strip that is bonded adhesively to the radome. These strips are sized and spaced carefully according to simulated lightning attachment tests, while at the same time not significantly interfering with the radar. In many ways, diverter strips function like a lightning rod on a building.

This FAQ can cover this topic only in a very general way. There are many additional details involved in the lightning protection of aircraft. Lightning Technologies, Inc. performs the required engineering and testing on a daily basis. Please call or e-mail for additional information.

Answer 7

planes are alot safer now and there hasnt been a plane crash from thunder in a long long time...also if it was to be that bad the airport will delay the flight. but if you still fell icky about it schedule another day when its clear and sunny. always go with your gut. best of luck! :)

Answer 8

You will always be safe in a plane. You can not be struck by lightning, since you are in the air. You need to be touching the earth in order for the lightning to hit you.

Your only worry should be about turbulence, but the pilots are trained for it.

I promise you, you will be safe.

Answer 9

flying in lighting is fun as crazy and messed up as that is. I'm a pilot for American and flying in lighting you see cool things especially if its dark. :) believe me if ATC did not think it was safe, they would not allow the plane to fly threw lighting...

Answer 10

its absolutaly not normal for a pilot to choose to fly through a thunderstorm. pilots always fly around thunderstorms