Lightning protection for aerotrain

IT was indeed disheartening last week to see passengers being made to walk on the elevated and unprotected guideway of the aerotrain track at the KL International Airport (KLIA) when their train broke down midway between the main and satellite terminals; reportedly, the rescue train that was supposed to pick them up also broke down (“MAHB apologises to passengers left stranded after aerotrain breaks down between terminals”, The Star, March 2; online at bit.ly/star_aero).

What is really concerning is the fact that the passengers had to walk in the rain and were exposed to potential lightning strikes in one of the most lightning-prone countries in the world. They should not have left the train which is a very safe structure if a lightning strike occurs on or near the cabin.