Developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the SAE ARP 5414 standard defines lightning strike zones and provides examples, along with guidelines for finding them on a particular aircraft. The zone definitions and location guidelines described herein Applies to airplanes. Zone location guidelines and examples represent in-flight lightning exposures.
If an aircraft is struck by lightning, a lightning strike conditional inspection is performed to determine the lightning strike entry and exit points. Maintenance personnel carefully inspect the structure as they look at the entrance and exit areas to find any damage that has occurred. This inspection is performed to determine if there is any structural and system damage before the aircraft is returned to service. There may be burn holes in the structure of the aircraft that cause pressure loss or cracks. Critical system components, harnesses, and tie-down straps should be verified as airworthy prior to flight.
Aircraft lightning strike zones are defined by the SAE ARP 5414 standard. Some areas are more prone to lightning strikes than others. Lightning strike entry and exit points are usually located in Zone 1, rarely occurring in Zones 2 and 3. The external components most likely to be exposed to lightning are: antenna shield (radom), fuselage, wingtips, horizontal stabilizer tips, vertical wingtips, leading edge wingtips, trailing edge fin track liners, landing gear, water waste ducts, and air data sensors (pitot probes, static ports, angle of attack blade and total air temperature probe).
Aircraft lightning zones are defined as follows in the SAE ARP 5414 standard:
Our organization, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, also provides test services for the aircraft lightning region within the scope of SAE ARP 5414 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.
To get an appointment, to get more detailed information or to request an evaluation, you can ask us to fill in our form and reach you.
EUROLAB reporting and certification activities, United Accreditation Foundation (UAF), Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK), Enterprise Accreditation Foundation (EAF) based on the accreditation provided by its institution. The Enterprise Accreditation Foundation (EAF) is also a signatory to the United Nations (UN GLOBAL COMPACT).
