A Location-Specific Lightning Risk Assessment Framework and Its Application to Airport Ground Operations

Lightning poses a threat to people outdoors near thunderstorm activity.  A framework was developed to provide a basis for assessing the lightning risk and expressing that risk in terms of monetary value.  A monetary valuation is needed for understanding the economic balance between the costs associated with a lightning risk and the costs incurred by delays of flights that could not get serviced because people were brought inside for safety reasons.

The lightning risk assessment builds upon multiple analysis steps and associated assumptions.  From a high-level perspective, situations need to be identified that involve outdoor workers exposed to the dangers from thunderstorms and lightning in particular; the number of people exposed to lightning danger during such periods needs to be determined; and the probability of injuries due to lightning has to be understood, which depends on the lightning activity during those times (i.e., chance of getting struck).  The severity of injuries incurred by a person struck by lightning governs the cost associated with the risk.

The presentation will discuss the new lightning risk assessment framework with a particular focus on airport ground operations.

This research is supported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the FAA.