Avionics News October 2012 - 21

electrical discharges generated by the turbulent buildups. And, datalink weather would have given me a strategic tool better than plain eyesight or ATC tracking. These two benefits help put spherics devices and weather datalink at the top of many pilots’ list of musthave equipment, particularly for those regularly flying long distances, often through instrument meteorological conditions on long legs that increase the odds of encountering the worst conditions. The good news is pilots and aircraft owners enjoy more options to bring near-real-time radar graphics and real-time lightning-strike indications into their cockpits. These tools also are available in a wider array of delivery systems than ever, from panel-mounted displays to the screens of properly equipped tablet computers and compatible electronic flight bags. Today, there are enough options to cover nearly every budget level and aircraft type. Lightning: A Primer on Unwanted Bolts from the Blue The old line reads if you don’t fly into storm clouds, you can’t be hit by lightning. There are other similarly invalid lines, such as you will hurt an engine running it lean of peak, or bird strikes never happen at cruise altitude. Believe those lines at your own risk. From personal experience, lightning can strike within

Avidyne's TWX670

L-3 Avionics Systems’ Stormscope WX-500

clouds, below clouds and above clouds – even 10 to 20 miles away from the generating clouds. A typical lightning bolt, according to research by collegiate and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration researchers, can produce current of 30,000 to 100,000 amperes at power exceeding 1 billion volts. Those are not numbers helpful for aircraft, electrical systems and avionics. Research from the National Institute for Aviation Research confirms this, along with records of actual lightning strikes dating back several years. For these reasons, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends pilots steer clear of potential lightning sources by 20 miles or more. Yes, the odds of being struck by lightning in-flight are not much different in-flight than on the ground, unless you increase your odds through closer proximity. The closer you get, the greater the odds of a strike. Even then, the chance of a lightning strike damaging the aircraft also is relatively small. But, depending on the aircraft, a bolt may render the electrical system inoperable, damage sensitive avionics or burn a nice, melted hole through aluminum skins. When they occur, aircraft lighting strikes seldom become accidents. They might trip a breaker, fail an alternator or burn holes in the airframe, and the failed system may contribute to an accident in the same way as a gyro or suction-system failure. So, why risk the strike at all when we can use available avoidance tools?
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Avionics News October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News October 2012

Point of Communication
AEA Now
The View From Washington
International News and Regulatory Updates
Lightning Detection & Datalink
Member Profile
Cockpit Innovations
Member Profile
A Conversation With...
Understanding Autopilot Upgrades
Before & After
Member Profile
Pro-to-col
Business Basics
Theory & Practice
What's New
Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News October 2012 - Intro
Avionics News October 2012 - Cover1
Avionics News October 2012 - Cover2
Avionics News October 2012 - 1
Avionics News October 2012 - 2
Avionics News October 2012 - 3
Avionics News October 2012 - Point of Communication
Avionics News October 2012 - 5
Avionics News October 2012 - AEA Now
Avionics News October 2012 - 7
Avionics News October 2012 - 8
Avionics News October 2012 - 9
Avionics News October 2012 - 10
Avionics News October 2012 - 11
Avionics News October 2012 - 12
Avionics News October 2012 - 13
Avionics News October 2012 - The View From Washington
Avionics News October 2012 - 15
Avionics News October 2012 - International News and Regulatory Updates
Avionics News October 2012 - 17
Avionics News October 2012 - 18
Avionics News October 2012 - 19
Avionics News October 2012 - Lightning Detection & Datalink
Avionics News October 2012 - 21
Avionics News October 2012 - 22
Avionics News October 2012 - 23
Avionics News October 2012 - 24
Avionics News October 2012 - 25
Avionics News October 2012 - 26
Avionics News October 2012 - 27
Avionics News October 2012 - Member Profile
Avionics News October 2012 - 29
Avionics News October 2012 - 30
Avionics News October 2012 - 31
Avionics News October 2012 - Cockpit Innovations
Avionics News October 2012 - 33
Avionics News October 2012 - 34
Avionics News October 2012 - 35
Avionics News October 2012 - 36
Avionics News October 2012 - 37
Avionics News October 2012 - 38
Avionics News October 2012 - 39
Avionics News October 2012 - Member Profile
Avionics News October 2012 - 41
Avionics News October 2012 - 42
Avionics News October 2012 - 43
Avionics News October 2012 - A Conversation With...
Avionics News October 2012 - 45
Avionics News October 2012 - Understanding Autopilot Upgrades
Avionics News October 2012 - 47
Avionics News October 2012 - 48
Avionics News October 2012 - 49
Avionics News October 2012 - 50
Avionics News October 2012 - 51
Avionics News October 2012 - 52
Avionics News October 2012 - 53
Avionics News October 2012 - 54
Avionics News October 2012 - 55
Avionics News October 2012 - Before & After
Avionics News October 2012 - 57
Avionics News October 2012 - Member Profile
Avionics News October 2012 - 59
Avionics News October 2012 - 60
Avionics News October 2012 - 61
Avionics News October 2012 - Pro-to-col
Avionics News October 2012 - 63
Avionics News October 2012 - 64
Avionics News October 2012 - 65
Avionics News October 2012 - Business Basics
Avionics News October 2012 - 67
Avionics News October 2012 - 68
Avionics News October 2012 - 69
Avionics News October 2012 - Theory & Practice
Avionics News October 2012 - 71
Avionics News October 2012 - 72
Avionics News October 2012 - 73
Avionics News October 2012 - What's New
Avionics News October 2012 - 75
Avionics News October 2012 - 76
Avionics News October 2012 - 77
Avionics News October 2012 - Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News October 2012 - 79
Avionics News October 2012 - 80
Avionics News October 2012 - Cover3
Avionics News October 2012 - Cover4
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