1. Read the text and answer the following questions. You can use your own experience.
- How can a lightning strike affect an aircraft?
- How can a lightning strike affect people on board?
- How can a controller assist an aircraft struck by lightning?
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LIGHTNING STRIKE
Aircraft are required to remain at least 20 miles from thunderstorms, to protect them against hail and turbulence and also from lightning. However, first two components of a thunderstorm cause more damage to an aircraft than a lightning does. Lightning can have different effects on an airplane, ranging from "no" effect, to severe damages, and even extreme cases – an explosion of fuel tanks.
| A lightning strike normally does not damage the airplane, although it may leave a burn mark. The lightning energy travels through the metal skin of the aircraft and sometimes into other areas of the aircraft. In a few cases the energy has damaged electronic and navigation equipment in the aircraft, but only a few aircraft have had major problems. In this case a pilot needs radar assistance, vectoring because he might be unsure of his position.
Sometimes the communication might be lost either.
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2. Do the lightning quiz, choosing the correct answers. Then check your answers with the teacher.
1. Which type of clouds can warn a pilot of thunderstorms and possible lightning?
| a) Stratus
b) Cumulonimbus
c) Cirrus
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2. Airliners can conduct lightning to the open air when they are made of this.
| a) Plastic
b) Copper
c) Aluminum
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3. Some of the worst lightning strikes that pilots need to avoid come from this type of thunderstorm.
| a) Super cells
b) Single cells
c) Red sprite
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4. How often does lightning typically strike airplanes?
| a) Never strikes airplanes.
b) Once in awhile a plane will be struck.
c) Every airplane may be struck once a year or more.
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5. Pilots try to avoid lightning by doing this.
| a) Flying at a higher altitude and going above the storm.
b) Taking a diversion around the storm.
c) Both of the above.
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6. What has been done to help protect airplanes against lightning?
| a) The skin of a plane is covered with a special paint to reflect lightning.
b) All airplanes receive lightning certification tests.
c) Planes are never allowed to fly if lightning is in the area.
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7. Why is aluminum a good material for the exterior of an airplane?
| a) Aluminum is a good electrical conductor.
b) Aluminum is light and so the plane can fly higher and go over storms.
c) Aluminum is shiny and reflects the lightning away from the plane.
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8. Why do planes continue to fly when there are thunderstorms if they might be hit by lightning?
| a) Airlines would make passengers angry if they didn't arrive on time.
b) Planes are never struck by lightning.
c) All thunderstorms, especially small ones can not always be avoided.
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Read the instructions and do the task.