Lightning strike on approach

낙뢰는 보통 큰 피해가 없습니다(항공기는 견디도록 설계됨). 그래서 오늘의 포인트는 "당황하지 않고 점검 → 확인 → 계속" 하는 침착함입니다. "맞았다 / 점검됐다"처럼 수동태(passive)가 자연스럽게 나오는 상황이라, 문법도 수동태로 갑니다.

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1. Scenario

I was the First Officer of HL123, a twin-engine aircraft on approach in a thunderstorm area.

During the approach, the aircraft was struck by lightning. There was a bright flash and a loud bang, and for a moment it was startling, but the aircraft kept flying normally.

Our priority was to stay calm and assess the aircraft. We checked the engines, the flight instruments, and the electrical systems. Everything was checked carefully, and the systems remained normal.

We told ATC we'd been struck by lightning and asked for a slightly longer final so we could finish our systems checks before landing. They had one aircraft waiting to depart, but they held it and extended our track by a few miles rather than rush us, and they asked whether we needed any assistance. The approach was continued, and we landed safely.

After landing, the aircraft was inspected by engineering for any damage, which is the normal procedure after a lightning strike.

2. At a Glance

English — On approach, the aircraft was struck by lightning. Modern aircraft are built to take this, so usually there is little or no damage. The key is to stay calm, check the systems, and continue if everything is normal. We told ATC, asked for a slightly longer final to finish our checks, and landed. After landing, the aircraft was inspected, which is standard after a strike.

한국어 — 접근 중 항공기가 낙뢰를 맞았습니다. 현대 항공기는 견디도록 만들어져 보통 피해가 거의 없습니다. 핵심은 침착하게 시스템을 점검하고, 이상 없으면 계속하는 것. ATC에 알리고 점검 마무리를 위해 조금 더 긴 final을 요청한 뒤 착륙했습니다. 착륙 후엔 표준 절차대로 기체를 점검받았습니다.

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3. Key Verbs

strike

뜻: 치다, 때리다 (수동: be struck = 맞다)

• The aircraft was struck by lightning on approach.
• If an aircraft is struck, the crew checks the systems.

assess

뜻: 평가하다, 판단하다

• Our priority was to assess the aircraft.
• We assessed the systems before continuing.

check

뜻: 점검하다

• We checked the engines and the instruments.
• Everything was checked carefully.

remain

뜻: (어떤 상태로) 유지되다

• The systems remained normal.
• The aircraft remained controllable throughout.

continue

뜻: 계속하다

• We continued the approach.
• The approach was continued to a normal landing.

recheck

뜻: 다시 확인하다

• We rechecked the electrical system.
• The crew rechecked the instruments after the strike.

report

뜻: 보고하다, 알리다

• We reported the lightning strike to ATC.
• The strike was reported to engineering.

withstand

뜻: 견디다

• Modern aircraft are designed to withstand lightning.
• The structure withstood the strike with no damage.

request

뜻: 요청하다

• We requested a slightly longer final.
• We requested more time to finish our checks.

inspect

뜻: 점검하다

• The aircraft was inspected after landing.
• Engineering inspected the structure for damage.

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4. Key Expressions & Collocations

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5. Vocabulary

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6. Sentence Frames

빈칸만 갈아끼우면 다른 "피격·점검" 상황에도 그대로 씁니다.

• During the ____, the aircraft was struck by ____. → During the approach, the aircraft was struck by lightning.
• Our priority was to stay calm and ____. → … and assess the aircraft.
• We checked ____, and everything remained normal. → We checked the engines, instruments, and electrics, and everything remained normal.
• We requested ____ so we could ____. → We requested a longer final so we could finish our checks.
• After landing, the aircraft was ____. → After landing, the aircraft was inspected for damage.

오늘의 표현 포인트 — "the aircraft was struck / everything was checked / it was inspected." 행위자보다 무슨 일이 일어났는지가 중요할 때 쓰는 수동태. 사건·점검 묘사에 자연스럽습니다.

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7. Common Mistakes → Better Phrasing

한국인이 자주 쓰는 틀리거나 약한 표현을, 시험에서 통하는 표현으로 바꿔 익히세요.

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8. Grammar Point — Passive Voice

행위자(누가)보다 무슨 일이 일어났는지가 중요할 때 be + 과거분사 (p.p.)로 말합니다.

• The aircraft was struck by lightning.
• The systems were checked carefully.
• The aircraft was inspected after landing.

능동 "Lightning struck the aircraft" 도 맞지만, 사건·점검을 담담하게 말할 땐 수동 "The aircraft was struck" 가 더 자연스럽습니다. be동사 시제만 맞추면 됩니다(was/were).

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9. Model Answer — Q1

"What happened to your aircraft? Explain the nature of the incident."

틀은 자유 — 무슨 일 → 어떻게 대처 → 결과 흐름이면 됩니다.

During the approach, in a thunderstorm area, the aircraft was struck by lightning. There was a bright flash and a loud bang, and it was startling for a moment, but the aircraft kept flying normally.

Our priority was to stay calm and assess the aircraft. We checked the engines, the flight instruments, and the electrical systems, and everything remained normal. Modern aircraft are designed to withstand lightning, so we were not too worried once the checks were done.

We reported the strike to ATC and asked for a slightly longer final to finish our checks. They held a departing aircraft and gave us the extra track miles rather than rush us, and asked whether we needed any assistance. The approach was continued, and we landed safely.

After landing, the aircraft was inspected by engineering for any damage, which is the standard procedure after a lightning strike.

10. Model Answer — Q2

"How do you think ATC handled the situation? Could it have been handled differently?"

Q2 = ATC 평가로 의견 표현을 익히는 자리. 아래는 한 예시 — 외워서 그대로 쓰지 말고, 시작·마무리 표현은 자유롭게 바꿔 보세요.

In my opinion, ATC stayed calm and did exactly the right things. When we asked for a longer final, they held a departing aircraft and gave us the extra track miles straight away rather than rush us, which let us finish our checks properly. They also asked if we needed any further assistance, so we knew help was ready if the checks found a problem.

If anything, earlier weather information about the storm cells on the approach would have helped us avoid the worst area. As it was, their quick and calm response made the whole thing easy to manage.

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11. Follow-up Q&A

1. Is a lightning strike usually dangerous? → Usually not. Aircraft are designed to withstand lightning, so most strikes cause little or no damage, but we still check everything.
2. Why did you ask for a longer final? → To give ourselves time to check the systems carefully before landing, without rushing the approach.
3. What systems did you check? → The engines, the flight instruments, and the electrical systems, looking for anything abnormal.
4. Why is an inspection needed after landing? → Lightning can leave small marks or damage on the structure, so engineering inspects the aircraft as a standard procedure.

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12. Shadowing Sentences

각 문장을 3~5번 소리 내어 따라 하세요.

1. During the approach, the aircraft was struck by lightning.
2. There was a bright flash and a loud bang.
3. Our priority was to stay calm and assess the aircraft.
4. We checked the engines, the instruments, and the electrical systems.
5. Everything was checked carefully, and the systems remained normal.
6. Modern aircraft are designed to withstand lightning.
7. We reported the strike to ATC and requested a longer final.
8. The approach was continued, and we landed safely.
9. After landing, the aircraft was inspected for damage.
10. An inspection after a lightning strike is standard procedure.

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