Updated Lightning Program Could Mean Fewer Delays

Spring and summer in the South offer amazing weather; however, these seasons can also bring thunderstorms and lightning that can impact Airport and airline operations.

Earlier this summer, the Airport’s Lightning Detection and Advisory Program (LDAP) began using revised detection and alerting parameters.

The goal is to reduce weather-related delays for passengers, enhance ramp safety and improve operational coordination.

New Lightning Parameters

After consulting other stakeholders and airports, CLT conducted a safety risk assessment and revised its LDAP parameters to better align with national industry best practices.

Using a data-driven approach, CLT has increased the lightning proximity radius by approximately 1.4 miles from the airfield perimeter (edge), rather than from the airfield's center point. This means the inner circle will encompass more of the Airport’s property. The revision also removes “In-cloud lightning” from that inner circle.

Updated Detection Zones:

• Advisory – In-cloud and/or cloud-to-ground lightning detected within 25 miles (previously 20 miles) of CLT's perimeter. Serves as a pre-alert.

• Warning (Amber) In-cloud and/or cloud-to-ground lightning detected within 10 miles of CLT’s perimeter will trigger an audible alert and an “amber” light.

• Alarm (Red) Cloud-to-ground lightning detected within 3 miles of CLT’s perimeter will activate alarm and put the ramp on “red.” (In-cloud lightning removed.)

• All Clear (Green) No cloud-to-ground lightning detected within 3 miles for 10 minutes, or no total lightning detected within 10 miles for 10 minutes of CLT.

Balancing Safety & Efficiency

At Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), the Airport Operations Center (AOC) continuously monitors lightning activity and verifies automatic web relay alerts from Vaisala, a global lightning-detection sensor network used by NASA and other organizations.

CLT’s role is to advise on lightning threats, not to mandate stoppages. Individual airlines and stakeholders establish their own internal response policies.

The LDAP revisions were made to balance operational efficiency with the safety of Airport workers, airline employees and passengers.

“I’m sure everyone can understand the significant impact on the National Airspace System when an airport the size of Charlotte closes the ramp and is unable to accept or move traffic, whether that’s departing or arriving flights,” said Erick Hall, Airport Operations Center Manager. “So, we tried to reassess and balance that a little more.”

The process began after CLT’s largest carrier, American Airlines, provided data showing that 75-80% of ramp closures (2024-2025) were caused by in-cloud lightning (or pulses), not by cloud-to-ground lightning.

“There were instances when the ramp was closed for a period of time, and there was no cloud-to-ground lightning strike detected during the entire storm; everything was up at altitude,” added Hall.

Extended ramp closures beyond 30 minutes can trigger a ripple effect of flight delays, crew time-outs, and long “on-boards,” leaving passengers stuck on planes, potentially violating Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines and causing irregular operations for the rest of the day.

Hall warns that no matter the ramp's color, the advisory program is just that – advisory, not preventive. However, he says the new lightning parameters should increase awareness without causing unnecessary delays.

Overlook “Light Stack” Coming

A light stack (red-amber-green), like those used on the Airport ramp, will eventually be installed at the Airport Overlook as part of a lighting upgrade project to improve safety and keep visitors informed about ramp conditions and lightning detection.