Airline and Airport Operations under Lightning Threats - Safety Risks, Impacts, Uncertainties, and how to deal with them all

摘要

Safety assurance of personnel working outdoors to service gate-side parked aircraft and maintaining airport grounds requires work stops and ramp closures to bring people inside whenever thunderstorms and lightning occur nearby. Ramp closures cause downtimes that operators would like to minimize, yet the decision-making process for closing and reopening a ramp is burdened with notable uncertainties. This paper highlights the significant impacts of lightning-induced ramp closures on arriving and departing flights, discusses the uncertainties associated with ramp closure decisions and implementation thereof, and offers guidance toward improving the safety of outdoor personnel and minimizing avoidable operational inefficiencies.