Boeing 737 struck by lightning - Can it happen ???

Have you heard of Gauss’s law ? Lightning is one of the most beautiful displays in nature. It is also one of the most deadly natural phenomena known to man. From time immemorial, humanity has had morbid fear of natural forces, more so of lightning and thunder. When it rains heavily accompanied by thunder and lightning. There are many stories in folklore of the devastation caused by the lightning. The deafening sound of thunder puts mortal fear in animals and human being. The fear / phobia is variously known as Astraphobia, Brontophobia and more.

Factually, there is not much to fear as thousands of thunderstorms on Earth each day produce millions of flashes of lightning – most of which occur in tropical areas. Most are harmless. These happen on the sky and what would happen to those sky borne aircrafts when lightning and thunder occur.

Last month, in a tiny island of San Andres in Colombia off Carribbean sea an Aires Airline Boeing 737 with 131 people on board was split into three when it crash landed during a storm. Photos depict it to be a gory accident but fortunately all passengers except one were safe. One died of heart attack. The plane involved Boeing 737 is a short to medium range, single aisle narrow body jet airliner. Boeings have been on air from 1967 ; some reports have it that there could be more than 1200 737s airborne at any given time including those departing and landing.

Scientifically, Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of electricity accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms and also during volcanic eruptions or dust storms. A bolt of lightning can travel at speeds of 36000 kmph and can reach teperatures of 30000°C hot enough to fuse silica sand into glass. The study of lightning is called fulminology. 

Anybody seeing the scattered remains of the plane would dare think of survivors. The fuselage split in three, pieces of nose and tail facing the opposite direction. Its engine and landing gear broke loose and wreckage remained scattered over 100m up on the runway. For the passengers it was a vacation trip to the beautiful island turned nightmare. From Bogota, San Andres is about 1250 km and would take less than two flying hours.

The transport minister blamed weather conditions and ruled out technical failure stating that it was a new plane which had undergone standard maintenance checks just the week before. Some said it was a miracle that only one died and that the pilot’s professionalism prevented the plane from going off the runway. The jetliner crashlanded at 1:49 am local time at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla airport on the Caribbean resort island. At the time of the accident the visibility was reported at 4000 meters (13000 feet), rain and winds around 15 knots, there were thunderstorms in the area. The plane reportedly spun out of control when it was struck by lightning 80 meters before landing. Though termed as new, the aircraft made its maiden flight in 2003 and entered service the same year.

The one involved in the accident was an Aires Boeing 737-700, registration HK-4682 performing flight 4C-8250 from Bogota to San Andres Island (Colombia) with 125 passengers and 6 crew. It touched down short of runway 06 and broke up in three parts while landing at San Andres Island Airport.

Hospital reports later started 4 survivors needed surgery; the first deceased female passenger was 72 years old and had suffered a cardiac arrest. Another 11 year old girl suffered severe traumatic brain injury and multiple organ failures. She passed away days later.

Boeing and other authorities would conduct investigations into the accident and there could be thousands of questions on what actually happened which made the plane fall apart. The most speculated cause was lightning. Based on weather analysis, 11 lightning flashes had been recorded at a radius of 10km off the airport in the span of five minutes of the occurrence. The Navigation Services Civil Aviation Authority of Colombia also mentioned of extreme weather conditions. There is also a theory that sudden changes in wind direction or airpockets in the path of landing can cause plane slamming the ground.

However there are doubts on the ‘lightning theory’. All aircrafts are designed to avoid adverse effects of lightning strike. The shape and construction which is mostly composed of metal materials, create electrical effects of lightning tends to spread around the fuselage.

The outer skin of most airplanes is primarily aluminum, which is a very good conductor of electricity; the secret to safe lightning hits is to allow the current to flow through the skin from the point of impact to some other point without interruption or diversion to the interior of the aircraft. Science forums state that each commercial airliner averages one lighting hit per year but the last crash that was attributed to lightning was in 1967 when the fuel tank exploded, causing the plane to crash. Generally, the first contact with lightning is at an extremity...the nose or a wingtip. As the plane continues to fly through the areas of opposite charges, the lightning transits through the aircraft skin and exits through another extremity point, frequently the tail.  Aircrafts use modern electronic gadgets as flight instruments. Shielding and surge suppressors ensure that electrical transients do not threaten the on board avionics and the miles of electrical wiring found in modern aircraft.

Aircrafts continuously traverses through changed atmospheric zones and the body of the aircraft has to be protected from lightning. The present day air crafts guided by land control and advanced weather information mostly do not fly into lightning storms, or fly through storms or areas where lightning is likely to be present. There is small device known as "static wick" which is a piece of metal connected electrically to the frame of the aircraft, with one or two spikes or needles on the end. It is housed in a fiberglass rod to insulate it from the airplane. Because the spikes concentrate the electric charge around them, and they are connected to the airframe, they allow the airplane to dissipate any static electricity it may build up out into the air. Also - if lightning strikes the plane, the chances are that the electricity will go through the dissipator and not through the airplane. On the ground, the craft sits on rubber tire and on air it is not grounded.

Thus theories of how and how it cannot always galore and science is mystifying !!!!!

In Physics, Gauss’s law is a law relating to distribution of electric charge to the resulting electric field. It states that ‘the electric flux through any closed surface is proportional to the enclosed electric charge’.

Regards – S(rinivasan)  Sampathkumar.

I love the Indian Army - but I must leave now : Gopalkarunakaran

It was purely by chance, I stumbled an article (in a blog ) of somebody who had served in Army. Out of reverence to Army, I started reading and before I could complete, I was trembling with an innate sense of how dead right he was on some issues, which the Nation / the media / the so called intelligentsia has tended to almost ignore. It is a grave threat in many ways that the Nation has not yet realized the real need.

We take pride that India achieved without bloodshed in its fight against Imperialistic British forces but forget to remember that instead of large scale celebrations, there were riots and mass killing, colossal loss of lives, destruction of property during the vivisection of this great land. It is quite unfortunate that in this vast land, separated by diverse cultures, languages, ethnicity and other differences, lot many things go unnoticed. The southern part of India was not the epicenter of wars and hence cannot understand the trials and tribulations which the northern part underwent.

Independence was not begotten on a platter, a huge spectrum of political organizations, philosophers, movements with the common aim of ending colonial rule had lost their generation in their tryst. There were radicals, there were others who had lost their property, family, life and themselves. There were self less leaders endowed with vision and forethought. The epic history dates back to longer periods. The massive epic war Mahabaratha at Kurukshetra will always have indelible impressions on the minds of all strategists.
A Nation can enjoy – its citizens can live happily only when its borders are courageously defended by an army which is selfless, has valour, honour, follows the excellent footsteps of illustrious predecessors and is trust worthy. These traits will constitute the safeguard of a Nation. The Nation is fortunate to have a highly disciplined and motivated army which has sacrified enough for ensuring peaceful living of the people. The Nation has seen major wars, infiltrations, insurgencies, internal civil strife, but the fine tuned Indian Army has taken upon itself that any of these have not affected the functioning of democracy.

The Army is manifestation of sacrifice and looks a modern army capable of fighting conventional as also the unconventional threats posed by terrorists and other evil forces. The safety, honour and welfare has been uppermost in the minds of soldiers. Their tradition is never to question but to do or die for the Name / honour of the Unit / Army / Nation, loyalty to the Nation.

BUT IS THE NATION REALLY DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE ARMY – for those who are battling for you and me ? Don’t they deserve the best of things ?

Why is that they are not the ones paid handsomely and treated with the highest dignity and honour in all public places ? WE as a Nation run behind stars of tinseldom treating them as heroes. Cine stars and Sportsmen (cricketers) earn in millions, many of them do not pay their taxes, many of them are not educated, some are not patriotic, many do not possess any special or good qualities – yet the Nation adores them. Stars of tinseldom preach as to what the Nation should do and their opinion on everything including the elections, public opinion on important things and even on National security. People and media pay heed to their words on how terrorists / extremists / insurgents should be treated and look to them on inter state disputes & the like. Why is that in none of the functions, the men on dais does not include a young Major or a Senior General.

This article of Mr Gopal Karunakaran, who served 27 years in the Indian Army and retired as a Colonel is thought provoking and imbues righteous earnestness in what he depicts. This revered man joined the Indian Army in 1981, served in Baramulla, Kupwara , a challenging stint at the highest mountain glacier of Siachen, did duty as UN Military observer on Iraq Kuwait demilitarized zone, taught at Indian Military Academy and commanded a unit on the Line of control, standing in the line of fire.

There are many apt questions : We expect the very best from our Army but do we do enough as a Nation to ensure that we have the best military the country can afford ? Why we do not have an integrated Chief of Defence Staff ? why is the establishment apathetic to the issues of military ? Why we do not have a Defence Secretary or Defense Minister, who has some military background and has served the Nation in a higher capacity in the army just as it happens in United States ? why we do not a have documented National counter-terrorism policy ? why don’t we have any military leader drafted in the leadership summits and conclaves ? why is the Indian media not exhibiting proper concern on larger dimensions of national security ?


Many such genuine concerns are addressed in the article of Col. (Retd) Gopal Karunakaran. The article in his blog titled : My Army Life 1977 – 2006 (I love the Indian Army – but I must leave Now!) would make many of us at least realize our mistakes in glorifying not so worthy men and in emulating and appreciating the greatness of Indian Army.


Please read the article here : My army life   or download the article in pdf. Army life

 Regards – Sampathkumar S

Innovative visionary Company 2011 by World Economic Forum – Vortex Engineering.

Have you heard of the term “Cash on the Nail” ? It means payment made immediately (everyone would love to have that). There is some reference to the old four pillars in Bristol of mid 16th century which initiated reference to the term ‘on the nail’ stating that business deals were sealed on these pillars.


Do you what Vortex is ? it is a spinning often turbulent flow of fluid. A spiral motion with closed streamline is vortex flow. The speed ad rate of rotation of the fluid in a free vortex are greatest at the centre an decrease progressively with distance from the centre. Have you read in recent times about an Indian company called ‘Vortex’ ?


Recently 31 visionary companies were recognized as Technology Pioneers 2011 by the World Economic Forum. WEF commended that these companies are Technology Pioneers whose business models will have a durable and valuable effect in several industries and society as a whole. They are selected on a yearly basis through a rigorous process by a selection committee comprising of Experts, academicians, venture capital firms & others. Vortex is the only Indian Company in this list.


Economic Times in their seven part series on unconventional basis had Vortex on their concluding report. They have featured in the Hindu, Financial Express, Rediff Business as also in Wall Street Journal. Vortex was founded with the focus of improving the quality of life of the rural population by building technology for practical use. This company was co founded in 2001 by a Mechanical Engineer from IIT Madras – Mr L Kannan. Vortex was founded with the focus of improving the quality of life of the rural population by building technology for practical use. Their innovation in ATM technology got them there.

As trade progressed, the need for access to easy money also progressed. The plastic card brought in a new revolution in transactions and enhanced sales. At the same time, the need for access to cash without the hassle of going to the exact premises in appointed time was also felt. In 1966, a cash dispensing device was first used in Tokyo. Little facts of this equipment are available but it appears that it dispensed cash for credit card rather than access to one’s account balances. The concept of ATM (Automated teller machine) picked up much later. In india, they are housed in small fully air conditioned rooms with security mostly. In many foreign countries, one can encounter ATMs standing out in the open in malls, airports and parking lots. Without human intervention (in some way), this dispenses cash either to the ATM / debit cards (when you have sufficient balance) or to Credit cards. Of course there are associated restrictions such as withdrawal restriction of Rs.10000/- in most teller machines. In earlier days, one had to necessarily withdraw from the ATM of the same bank wherein one had an account, lest he would be charged something extra. The plastic card which accesses ATM has a magnetic strip with a unique number – authentication is provided by the customer entering a personal identification number (PIN). There have been some instances of the equipment malfunctioning, cash not being dispensed with, extra debit to one’s account and some other troubles for the unfortunate unwary individuals.


For the regular users, this facility no doubt is a boon for one has access to cash almost everywhere at any time during the day or night. Many (mis)use the credit facility and end up paying much more. In fact the system helps travellers to withdraw cash during their travel – beyond the national frontiers – in a foreign land, you can withdraw that Nation’s currency. ATMs use a complex mechanism where the cassettes are horizontal and at bottom of ATM – cash is moved from the cassette through a conveyor belt upwards to dispense cash in the denominations preset. There also is CRT monitors mostly working on touch screen mechanism. The most common problem one would face is ATMs non functioning due to non availability of power.


This Company has pioneered elegant and innovative cash dispensking mechanism, protected by patents and does not use any conveyor belt; the cassette is mounted vertically and in the top half of ATM. The notes traverse shorter distance and hence uses less of power. The processors involved are also lower power consuming ones, LCD consume little power and the OS is Linux. This type can easily work without any airconditioner. The lower power consumption makes it viable to cost effectively operate on solar power.


In rural India very few have formal credit mechanism and are at the mercy of local money lenders. Banks generally do not have branches in interior places and would be wary of installing ATMs due to the cost of proposition. All that is of the past…………….

Vortex Engg have installed a low cos ATM in Wai, Satara Dist in Maharashtra which would dispense money even during a power cut – an incredible achievement in rural India, thanks to the likes of L Kannan. The equipment called ‘Gramateller’ is a gift to rural India as it consumes much less of pwer, functions during power cuts, has back up power supply and has the option of running on solar power. There are some in the city who are still suspicious of ATMs and it certainly would have been a challenge to make the villagers understand that they can access their money from a lone standing machine. The Gramateller is making waves due to lesser power consumption, low cost, ability to handle wider variation in qualityof notes, biometric authorization as an alternative to PIN and the operating system of Linux. They now dream of setting up an ATM in every Indian village. Also the fact that the conventional ones would require bigger infrastructure and 3 phase whereas this one would work on single phase connection is a huge bonus. This machine reportedly costs Rs.,175000/- much lower as compared to conventional ones @ 8 – 10 lakhs. The penetration of ATMs in India is still very low and going by the spread and distance, there is great scope to prosper.
State Bank of India has reportedly placed order for a high no. of ATMs. Kannal feels fortunate to be associated with Prof. Jhunjhunwala and his associates at IIT Madras and places the rural-ATM as the outcome of that association. He says that Vortex belongs to a class of natural phenomena known in physics as 'singularities'. These are instances where conventional laws break down, infinite concentrations of energy are possible and unexpected outcomes are certain to happen.

As he points out, unfortunately, those who require huge amounts are provided loans @ lower rates but a common man would find it almost impossible to get a small loan for his enterprising needs. The first deployment of these low cost ATM was for disbursals to people under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). People were delighted by the transparency and accessibility of the system. The ready availability also makes them withdraw only when needed thus promoting savings. This would help large spheres of activities like pensioners receiving their monthly pensions, old parents instantaneously able to withdraw money remitted by their children working in cities etc.,

Long live the Kannans and his ilk contributing to new Indian Society.

Regards – Sampathkumar S

Sydney Police raids illicit drugs - catches crocodile

You can decide on whether to shed tears or not after reading this fully. To shed crocodile tears is a phrase, which means an insincere show of sorrow.

The allusion arose from the ancient notion that crocodiles would weep while devouring their prey. This specie belonging to the family Crocodylidae which includes alligators and gharials are large qquatic reptiles living in the tropics of Africa, Asia, America and Australia. Now, a University of Florida researcher has concluded that crocodiles really do bawl while banqueting – but for physiological reasons rather than rascally reptilian remorse.   These beasts are often ugly looking ...........

Recent news from Australia has it that Police raids in Sydney have turned up illicit drugs worth around $3 million, a cash haul of $300,000 - and a crocodile. In coordinated operations in three different suburbs in Sydney's northwest on Wednesday, drug squad detectives seized 5.7kg of methylamphetamine, valued at $2.85 million, at a house in Horsley Park. The $300,000 was found at a home in Pemulwuy and a raid on a house in Londonderry resulted in the seizure of a Taser and a firearm. Police said they also discovered an infant crocodile in the raid on the Londonderry property.

The small reptile was taken to Featherdale Wildlife park in Doonside and a 26-year-old man has been charged with possession of protected fauna, as well as counts of supplying drugs. Two other men, aged 27 and 30, were arrested during the raids and charged with drug supply. All have been refused bail and are due to appear at Fairfield Local Court on Wednesday. Why and for what reason was that crocodile kept has kept everyone guessing !

A few months ago, in suburban Tambaram (off Chennai, Tamilnadu) late night, a 70 year old carpenter and his wife happily watching a soap opera on television had a surprise visitor. It did not walk in but crawled. The nocturnal guest was a four foot long marsh crocodile. Surely they were shocked to have such a visitor who had crawled to the bedroom before they could even realise what was happening. Their screams soon brought a huge crowed and there was chaos as none knew what to do. A young brave person tried to shove a huge block of wood into the reptile’s fearsome open mouth.

Crocodiles are lazy slow moving creatures, as one think them to be. This one crushed the log and attacked the man injuring his badly. The bleeding person was rushed to a private hospital whilst others succeeded in tying to a tree. The Forest Dept then rushed to the spot and took the reptile to the Vandalur Zoological Park where a no. of its ilk already live.

Few years back few marsh crocodiles were spotted and more were feared in the lakes and other water bodies in the suburb. As Vandalur zoo is surrounded by vast forest areas with water bodies, some say that there is chance of these reptiles entering into residential areas especially those near water bodies. Another four footer had entered a house at Peerkankaranai few years back. Few decades ago, a crocodile was sighted in Otteri nullah near Stanley medical college but was run over by a train.

There are confounding theories as to how such reptiles stray into human inhabitation – there is a version that a kite or a crow could have picked up a young infant from captivity, which could have slipped and fallen into a water body. The baby would have grown undetected and a mature adult may have been seen when it ventured out !! – a story close to figment of imagination…….

Some more reference to Crocodile : Crocodile Gold is a Canadian company with operating gold mines in the Northern Territory of Australia and a land package of over 2,500 square kilometres. Currently they are producing from open pit mines as also underground. Crocodile Gold has 3.09 million ounces of NI 43-101 compliant measured and indicated resources and 1.94 million ounces of inferred resources on its expansive land package. Crocodile Gold's main focus is on the Cosmo/Howley corridor which contains a substantial amount of the Company's resources within a five kilometre strike length of a 25 kilometre trend.

Many of us wear T shirts and crocodile appears in two brands : Lacoste & Crocodile garments. Have you noticed the difference !

Lacoste is a high end apparel company founded in 1933 and sells high end closthing, footwear, perfume, leather goods, watches, eyewear and tennis shirts. It has green crocodile as its logo.  The other textile and garments company of Hong kong is Crocodile Garments, founded in 1952. It also uses a crocodile logo.
The logo of crocodile garment faces left while the one in Lacoste faces right. The two fought for the logo rights in China, but eventually reached a compromise with Crocodile agreeing to change its logo to have a more vertical tail and more scales for its logo.

Hope you found this interesting !!

Regards – Sampathkumar S