[Boatanchors] new Ground system

Sat, 16 Mar 2002 06:43:31 -0600

It has been a few years, but as I recall, the system was added by LEA (not 
NEA as stated on original post).  Consisted of towers with what looked like 
umbrellas, miles of wire on top of buildings with barb wire appearance.  The 
whole thing was supposed to prevent lightning hits by dissapating the 
charges so the potential buildup never reached the arc over (stroke) point.  
I worked for the FAA at the time and was over on the other side of the 
airport (in the new towr base building)  There was a lightning 
detector/warning system installed, and sure enough whenever lightning 
occurred it would quit or shut down....so I guess in effect it worked.

Jim, wd4air

>From: Bob Wilder <[email protected]>
>To: [email protected]
>CC: "James Duffer" <[email protected]>,[email protected]
>Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] new Ground system
>Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 09:26:33 -0600
>
>As I remember, Memphis Municipal Airport (USAF Side - where Fedex is now) 
>had
>tiedown rings and ground points about every 10 feet all over the ramp and
>between
>each of the big hangers. plus ground point sindes each of the big hangers.  
>So
>Fedex must have incorporated these into their grounding system.  Never was 
>a
>problem as far as I know at Memphis.
>
>Bob,AF2HD
>
>
>At 08:08 AM 03/15/2002 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
> >WOW.  When i was in the Air Force taking care of their aircraft between
>1959 and
> >1968 all we did was connect a cround wire from the airplane to a 
>designated
> >ground coming thru the concrete.  Usually one ground point between 
>aircraft.
> >Depending on where they were parked on the ramp of course.  SOme places 
>had a
> >single ground point for each parking spot.
> >
> >Used 3 point grounding when refueling.  Ground aircraft, ground fuel 
>truck
>and
> >then ground fuel truck to aircraft.  I never heard of any problems in the 
>10
> >years i was doing the work.
> >
> >Interesting thread here and lots of good suggestions/comments/stories.
>Glad i
> >thought of it.  Now back to work..
> >
> >Larry
> >W0OGH
> >
> >James Duffer wrote:
> >
> >> One of the most impressive "dissapative" lightning protection system 
>was
>the
> >> Federal Express Terminal located at Memphis TN.  I got a tour of their
> >> system years ago.  I guess when you are refueling a plane you want lots 
>of
> >> protection against a spark.  I am not for sure but the system may have 
>been
> >> installed by NEA Associates who at the time had a rather controversial
> >> lightning protection system.
> >>
> >> 73, Jim, wd4air
> >>
> >> >From: Glen Zook <[email protected]>
> >> >To: Gary Schafer <[email protected]>
> >> >CC: "Duane Fischer, W8DBF" <[email protected]>, Arthur Shulman
> >> ><[email protected]>, [email protected], 
>[email protected]
> >> >Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] new Ground system
> >> >Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 20:48:16 -0800 (PST)
> >> >
> >> >My tower has NEVER been HIT by lighting.  However,
> >> >there is more to this than just grounding.  You have
> >> >to use dissipation devices as well.  Those can be made
> >> >for under $10 apiece (one is needed for each leg of a
> >> >tower, and if the tower is over 100 feet tall, they
> >> >should be placed from 50 to 75 feet apart up each
> >> >leg).  Or, you can buy them commercially built for
> >> >about $350 apiece!
> >> >
> >> >A dissipation device will not protect a tower 100%
> >> >from a strike (nothing can).  However, they can reduce
> >> >the chances of a strike up to 99.99%.
> >> >
> >> >Glen, K9STH
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >--- Gary Schafer <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> > > Glen,  are you saying that because of your grounding
> >> > > system that your
> >> > > tower has never been hit by lightning? Or that you
> >> > > have never had any
> >> > > damage from a lightning strike.
> >> >
> >> >
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>
>73
>Bob Wilder, AF2HD / AFA2HD(USAF MARS)
>TSgt, USAF (Retired)
>6032 Idlemoore Court
>Theodore, Alabama 36582-4036
>(251)653-5274
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