Atmospheric electrical discharges and their interaction with aircraft

Abstract

The occurrence of lightning strike to aircraft is among the most frequently incidents reported by pilots. These reports, the analysis of their effects to aircraft and the research developed by several entities, laboratories and universities, provides to the industry a large amount of information about the phenomenon and about methods and techniques which allow the development of design solutions that minimize damage, adding to safe fl ight conditions, even in cases of high intensity lightning discharges incidents. This article presents some concepts related to atmospheric discharges and their interaction with aircraft, as well as some techniques already employed by several aircraft manufacturers with the intention of minimizing the effects of these interactions.