Aircraft & Spacecraft

a helicopter is flying next to an aluma tower

Lightning Protection Systems for Airports & Space Launches

Aluma Tower designs and manufactures several lightning towers to protect aircraft, spacecraft and payloads from direct lightning strikes. Our launchpad lightning protection systems are mobile and rapidly deployable whenever and wherever necessary, offering unmatched convenience and performance for aerospace applications.

Aluma Lightning Masts

Our lightning towers are built from high-grade aluminum and act as the first line of defense, shielding rockets and satellites from the electromagnetic fields generated by lightning. They also prevent lightning strikes from directly hitting airports, aviation infrastructure and critical assets, such as communication networks, control towers and support vehicles.

These sturdy, tall structures fully safeguard the intended area from damage, preventing potential incidents and schedule delays. Their lightweight portability allows you to quickly deploy, retract and store these lightning towers at any time.

We carry an extensive library of complete, ready-made designs featuring tower and trailer tower models. Our engineering team can customize any of our lightning mast solutions to fit your exact specifications.

Scorpion 53-70 Trailer Tower

The TM 53-70 Scorpion is a self-supporting tower that can reach a height of 106 ft. The open tower is lightweight with a patented adjustable tongue coupler, making it towable by most vehicles, including MRAP, JLTV and FMTV.

T2 Series Unguyed Tower

The telescopic unguyed tower can be used as a standalone solution or mounted on a trailer. The self-supporting lightning mast provides rapid deployment and can stand up to 103 ft. tall.

Aluma Self-Monitoring Automatically Retracting Tower in sky with American flag at the top

T2-100UG SMARTtower™

The SMARTtower™ features advanced technology enabling complete remote control of the structure. The T2-100UG model can reach a height of 103 ft. and is retractable through programmable controls. The tower also reports meteorological data, which can alert you of lightning.

Aluma Tower to Provide Support at Rocket Launches

Florida is the lightning capital of the United States, as it experiences about 90 days of thunderstorms a year, usually in spring, summer and fall. As a state dominated by the space industry, the high rate of lightning occurrences seriously threatens rocket launches, which is why a launchpad lightning protection system is crucial.

Lightning often hits the tallest object in the sky, leaving spacecraft susceptible to strikes. Aluma Tower’s lightning systems stand taller than spacecraft. When lightning strikes, the aluminum mast takes the hit and quickly diverts the surge of electrical current away from the rocket and launchpad to carry it into the ground. These systems help prevent fatalities and protect the rocket’s volatile, sensitive materials.

Mitigating the Lightning Threat at Airports

Lightning can cause significant and costly damage in airports, from harming critical infrastructure to disrupting operations. Additionally, it can pose a safety risk for passengers and personnel since aircraft are more vulnerable to strikes during takeoff and landing.

By attracting lightning and diverting it away from aviation infrastructure and aircraft, Aluma towers help mitigate those risks, safeguarding essential assets and enabling seamless operations.

Benefits of Aluma Tower

Here are the benefits of using Aluma towers as an airport or launchpad lightning protection system:

  • Payload capacity: Our telescope masts can handle up to 80% of the payload capacity of a similar steel tower while weighing 70% less.
  • Low maintenance: These lightning towers require minimal maintenance, making them an ideal choice for demanding terrain and extreme conditions.
  • Convenient access: Aluma towers can be tilted from a vertical to a horizontal orientation, providing easy access to technicians during installation, repair or maintenance.

Connect with Aluma Tower for Lightning Protection Systems

Aluma offers a wide selection of lightning towers with outstanding portability and reliable protection. We can help you determine the best model for your requirements and customize it to deliver your desired features. Contact us to learn more about our airport and launchpad lightning protection system solutions.