CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte-Douglas International Airport has upgraded its lightning detection program, which could help reduce ramp closures and flight delays during thunderstorms.
After speaking with other stakeholders and airports, Charlotte Douglas revised its lightning parameters, extending its lightning zone about 1.4 miles from the airfield perimeter rather than being measured from the center point. This removes in-cloud lightning from the inner circle.
The goal of the program is to reduce weather-related delays for passengers, enhance ramp safety, and improve operational coordination.
The process for the new program began after data from CLT’s largest carrier, American Airlines, noted that 75-80% of ramp closures in ’24-’25 were caused by in-cloud lightning, not by cloud-to-ground lightning.
The program is advisory and not meant to mandate stoppages.
CLT also plans to add a light stack, like those used on the Airport ramp, to the Airport Overlook as part of a lighting upgrade project to help improve safety and keep visitors informed about ramp conditions and lightning detection.
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