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7.2 The Airport and the Environment



                                                  The Airport and the Environment
      One of the biggest and most common environmental concerns for airport managers is lighting and thunderstorms. “IATA requires for safety reasons some or all handling operations to be suspended when lightning occurs at or near an aerodrome.” ( ICAO, AMOFSG/7SN No. 17)
During a thunderstorm, ramps are shut down and often planes can be left on the tarmac for however long it takes for the storm to pass. This is called a tarmac delay. Tarmac delays hurt airlines by causing jets to sit and burn fuel for periods of time while planes may be boarded with passengers. If the plane is delayed long enough to cause frustration to passengers, airlines are often obligated to provide financial compensation to the passengers for the inconvenience.
      There is a delicate balance to be found between operational efficiency and personnel safety. Delaying aircraft due to lightning unnecessarily would cost the airport more money because of increased operating hours and would be a headache for passengers, but there is always a chance that lightning could strike the apron when there is an electrical field present above the airport. This chance is increased when aircraft are present on the ramp because of the large mass of metal between airplanes and jetbridges being a possible attractant for electricity.
     Because of lightning and thunderstorms causing operational delays and costing airports and airlines money, they are the most common and most troublesome environmental problem for airport managers. Thunderstorms can be unpredictable at times, and often they don't need to be directly over the airport to cause of a ramp closure. As long as they are within the vicinity of the airport, they must result in ramp closure. There is a lot to consider as well regarding things that normally accompany thunderstorms, such as heavy rain and hail, so your best bet is being safe, even when it calls for extra expenditure on the airport's side.






References: Lightning safety at airports: Know when to stop & resume airfield operations. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ubimet.com/en/industries/aviation-weather-forecasting-industry-solutions/lightning-safety-at-airports/
Tarmac Delays. (2017, October 10). Retrieved from https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/tarmac-delays
   
Tarmac Delays. (2017, October 10). Retrieved from https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/tarmac-delays

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