Lightning Protection of Avionics
Fall 2023
A four-and-one-half day course for engineers concerned with lightning protection design and certification for aircraft avionics, controls, and other electrical systems. The course includes a detailed study of the physics of lightning indirect effects and coupling mechanisms, analysis and testing of transient levels, specific protection-design scenarios and techniques, and a thorough discussion of certification plans and verification-test methods and procedures. Emphasis is given to the protection design and certification of flight-critical and essential (Level A, B and C) systems - and applies to commercial and military aircraft and helicopters of all categories. It is also applicable to space vehicles, airships, and unoccupied air vehicles (UAV).
This course has been designed to give students the basic understanding and practical information required for meaningful work in this technology and to avoid common pitfalls such as misinterpretation of requirements and costly over-designs. Developed by engineers currently active in the lightning protection design and certification of the world's most advanced aerospace vehicles and systems, the course is specialized in the induced effects of lightning on systems and equipment.
Course Requirements
Students should be conversant with aircraft or system installation designs and should be actively engaged in the planning, design or certification of aircraft or systems.
Course Materials
This course requires the textbook Lightning Protection of Aircraft, Edition 3 and the course handbook - both provided with paid tuition. Following a brief review of the natural lightning environment, chapters 9-18 will be covered in depth. (Special note from the Course Facilitator: leave room in your suitcase for the textbook and handbook - they weight about 10lbs.!)
Lead Instructor
Andy Plumer, Founder and Chief Engineer of Lightning Technologies - now Element Lightning Technologies - the globally recognized authority in lightning technology.
Registration Deadline & Pricing
Please contact our course coordinator at +1 413-449-0059 for pricing, payment and registration information.
Technical questions?
Please contact Andy Plumer via email or phone +1 413 822 2080.
Element Lightning Technologies
Element Lightning Technologies in Pittsfield is an international leader in the development and verification of successful lightning protection for customers in the Aerospace, Wind, Solar, Maritime, Electric Power Generation and transmission, Oil and Gas, and many other industries.
Founded in 1977 as Lightning Technologies (“LTI”), Element Lightning Technologies in Pittsfield has been a leader in the development and updating of lightning simulation and testing standards for aircraft and wind turbine protection ever since. We developed the aircraft lightning transient analysis (“LTA”) testing method now in wide use worldwide.
Our 20,000 square foot facility is one of the most complete lightning-simulation laboratories in the world with generators capable of producing up to 2.4 million volts and 200,000 amperes and others - capable of simulating all the standard lightning-induced transients applicable to aerospace and ground-based equipment and systems.
