We had a random pothole about a foot across that looked like the asphalt had been blown out from underneath in one of our taxiways last spring. I told everyone it was lightening, they said I was wrong. Thanks for posting and allowing me an "I told you so!"
We have experienced several lightning strikes at SAV on RW 10-28 in the asphalt portion. Occasionaly we take a hit on concrete taxiways. I cant stress the importance of a field check immediately after a T-storm.
I have had some strikes over the years; mostly small holes, not ones of substantial size. Seems like an airport draws the lightning, no doubt. Makes you appreciate what it can do and why to stay away from it when it is happening.
We get several lightning strikes a year on our runways at O'Hare. No matter if your runway is concrete or asphalt, lightning will penetrate the surface and can throw the debris hundreds of feet. As far as the lighting circuits go, for an airport that has a lot of lights we don't usually experience any complete outages due to lightning but it can hit lights or any other obstruction (localizer, RVR, approach light towers).
I too have seen that a couple of times. I recommend you megger your airfield lighting circuits ASAP. Sometimes lightning strikes can damage the circuit to not quite the point of failure.
Comments - Lightning hole
We have experienced several lightning strikes at SAV on RW 10-28 in the asphalt portion. Occasionaly we take a hit on concrete taxiways. I cant stress the importance of a field check immediately after a T-storm.
I have had some strikes over the years; mostly small holes, not ones of substantial size. Seems like an airport draws the lightning, no doubt. Makes you appreciate what it can do and why to stay away from it when it is happening.
We get several lightning strikes a year on our runways at O'Hare. No matter if your runway is concrete or asphalt, lightning will penetrate the surface and can throw the debris hundreds of feet. As far as the lighting circuits go, for an airport that has a lot of lights we don't usually experience any complete outages due to lightning but it can hit lights or any other obstruction (localizer, RVR, approach light towers).
I too have seen that a couple of times. I recommend you megger your airfield lighting circuits ASAP. Sometimes lightning strikes can damage the circuit to not quite the point of failure.
Yes!! a few years ago, we just over-laid our runway 5/23 then the next night lightning struck and lifted out a 2 foot piece. It is a grooved runway.
I have also seen ligtning strike my runway lights and turn the sand around the underground cable to glass.
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