Lightning Certification

Guidance Flowchart: P-Static and Lightning Certification Steps for Transport Category (Part 25) Aircraft

 

In the aircraft certification world it is easy to get stuck in the quagmire of the various FARs, ACs, and ARPs. That’s why we at EMA® put together a handy flowchart of guidance documents one can use when thinking about precipitation static (P-Static) and Lightning certification steps of a transport category (or part 25 category) aircraft.

The flowchart starts by first listing the CFRs (Code of Federal Regulations) pertaining to:

  • Systems Lightning Protection – 14 CFR 25.1316, which encompasses both direct effects and indirect effects of lightning
  • Fuel Systems Lightning Protection – 14 CFR 25.954 and 25.981, which also includes direct and indirect effects
  • Lightning Protection – 14 CFR 25.581, which includes lightning direct effects
  • Precipitation Static – 14 CFR 25.899(a)(3)

From there we list the relevant guidance documents, and the flowchart shows how everything fits together. The flowchart focuses on the Systems Lightning Protection, Fuel Lightning Protection, and Precipitation Static guidance documents.

 

Precipitation Static (P-Static) and Lightning Certification Steps flowchart

 

The table shown below lists the FAR (Federal Aviation Regulations) sections, the related guidance documents and their titles. NOTE: there will be a guidance document for 25.981, Fuel Tank Ignition Prevention, sometime in the future. Currently we are not aware of its release date or its document number.

Environmental EffectFAR SectionFAR DescriptionGuidance Doc Number Guidance Doc Title
Lightning25.1316Electrical and Electronic Systems Lightning ProtectionAC 20-136BAircraft Electrical and Electronic System Lighting Protection
SAE ARP 5414BAircraft Lightning Zoning
SAE ARP 5412BAircraft Lightning Environment and Related Test Waveforms
SAE ARP 5415ACertification of Aircraft Electrical/Electronic Systems for the Indirect Effects of Lightning
SAE ARP 5416AAircraft Lightning Test Methods
SAE ARP 5577Aircraft Lightning Direct Effects Certification
DO-160G Sec. 22Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment: Lightning Induced Transient Susceptibility
DO-160G Sec. 23Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment: Lightning Direct Effects
25.954Fuel System Lightning ProtectionAC 20-53BProtection of Aircraft Fuel Systems Against Fuel Vapor Ignition Caused by Lightning
SAE ARP 4761Aerospace Recommended Practice, Guidelines and Method for Conducting the Safety Assessment Process on Civil Airborne Systems and Equipment
25.981Fuel Tank Ignition PreventionTBDPolicy Guidance for Lightning Protection for Fuel Tank Structure and Systems
P-Static25.899(a)(3)Electrical Bonding and Protection Against Static ElectricitySAE ARP 5672Aircraft Precipitation Static Certification
SAE ARP 1870AAerospace Systems Electrical Bonding and Grounding for Electromagnetic Compatibility and Safety

 

 

 

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