A Southwest Airlines jet had a pretty dramatic approach to Denver International Airport (DEN), after it was struck by lightning, and the pilots lost radio communication.
Continue reading: Southwest Boeing 737 Suffers Lightning Strike, Loses Communication
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
hats off to all the professionals that handled the situation well.
Note that a UA aircraft also had a lightning strike after SWA 168 but did not need assistance.
a SKYW flight wanted to make sure he didn't become #4.
I'm curious what happens to the computer systems that the plane uses, and especially the 737 Max planes that after the crashes I seen to recall apparently rely on them to remain flight worthy?
What is the backup for full loss of communication? It used to be flares? in VFR?
There is the ability to use cell phones? Do airports have a plan for this in the case of total loss? Is this available as part of a backup plan?
Of course it was a brand new Boeing. Someone probably found a way of saving $1 by making the radio equipment shield thinner, and the Boeing bean counters thought it was a great idea and even awarded an employee of the month badge for it.
I wondered this, too. I thought maybe something with the aircraft lights? Maybe a port-starboard-port-starboard flashing sequence is the visual mayday. Kind of how dipping wings is a salute. Or maybe a repeated dip is a mayday, too. Would be interesting to have a pilot chime in.
We squawk 7600 for loss of comms. The only flashing lights involved are from the tower if we can't receive or can't acknowledge reception.
Being able to receive and not transmit is more common than you'd think, actually. Receive, acknowledge with IDENT, wash, rinse, repeat.
What happens to the computers? The same thing as every other aircraft in the sky: nothing.
@Ben in the "Bottomline" you write "no longer able to transit audio." I think you mean "transmit audio."