SAE ARP5577

Description / Abstract: This document provides guidance for a means of showing compliance with regulations for protection against lightning direct effects for aircraft of conventional design, as well as for those involving advanced composite structures or other new technologies. This guidance also applies to those aspects of aircraft systems and components not addressed in the regulations covering the protection of electrical/electronic systems (for example, FAR/JAR xx.1316) or fuel systems (for example, xx.954). The guidance provided in this document applies to initial designs as well as modifications.

Purpose:

The purpose of this document is to provide information and guidance concerning an acceptable means, but not the only means, of compliance with Parts 23, 25, 27, and 29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) and Joint Aviation Regulations (JAR), applicable to aircraft for protection against the direct effects of lightning. Accordingly, this material is neither mandatory nor regulatory in nature and does not constitute a regulation. In lieu of following this method, the applicant may elect to establish an alternate method of compliance that is acceptable to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)/Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) for complying with the requirements of Sections 23.867, 25.581, 27.610, (a) and 29.610(a), (b) and (c).

NOTE: This material does not explicitly cover fuel systems as required by FAR/JAR 23.954, 25.954, 27.954 and 29.954 or electrical/electronic systems as defined in 23.1309(e) 25.1316, 27.1309(d) and 29.1309(h).

This document is one of several documents related to the effects of lightning on aircraft. Figure 1 shows the relationship between the external environment, zoning of the aircraft, and testing requirements.