THE country’s premier airport is safe against lightning bolts, and all the people inside it, as well as sophisticated equipment, are safe from sudden electric surges, airport authorities said on Monday.
Airport General Manager Ed Monreal gave the assurance as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) has twice been placed on lightning red alert this month, with ramp movement by both people and planes halted as a precaution, after an airport worker died a few years ago while on duty during a thunderstorm.
On Monday, Monreal said the four passenger terminals are equipped with Lightning Protection System (LPS).
“The Ninoy Aquino International Airport has 20 lightning arresters upgraded in 2016 to ensure better protection coverage of the people and equipment within,” Monreal said.
These devices are checked every three years in adherence to internationally prescribed standards on lightning protection for vital facilities, he said.
A lightning arrester is a device used to protect electrical and telecommunication facilities of buildings from the damaging effects of lightning.
“A lightning surge is captured by the array of arresters and the electrical charges are directed into the ground which absorbs it,” Monreal explained.
Lightning alerts are adopted in most airports worldwide as a safety measure to protect ramp workers from death or injury caused by a lightning strike.
The Naia lightning arresters have a spherical (or dome) coverage of 100 meters.
While airplanes have their own lightning protection, the continued movement of ground personnel is discouraged because of the possibility the current might discharge on tall objects against a level field like the tarmac.
Monreal said personal protection equipment worn by ramp workers may not be enough to shield them from at least 24 megavolts of current carried by a lightning.
Lightning happens during thunderstorms due to friction in air, causing negatively charged particles in the atmosphere to be attracted by the positively or zero-charged ground or pavement.
Apart from the Naia, lightning alert levels are also imposed in different territories, such as Hong Kong, Australia and Brunei, among others.
Monreal appealed for the understanding of Naia passengers when ramp operations are suspended during lightning red alerts.
Alerts are announced over Naia’s public address systems to keep the passengers informed of the situation.
The airport chief also asked airline operators to ensure that announcements are made on board the aircraft when such is held on the ground or are enroute to Naia.
“While we are duty bound to keep flights safe, we are also duty bound to protect the lives of airport personnel while at work, especially those working in areas where exposure to environmental hazards is greater,” said Monreal.
Over the years, several airport personnel have been struck dead by lightning bolts during thunderstorms, prompting the weather bureau Pagasa to step in and install a lightning alert system at the Naia.
In coordination with air traffic controllers, the meteorologists decide whether to close the airport by raising the red alert when lightning activities are within 15 kilometers of the premier gateway.