A Study of Certification of Lightning Indirect Effects on Cable Harness in Personal Air Vehicles

Abstract

The airworthiness certification of lightning indirect effects becomes an important issue in personal air vehicles (PAVs), which are being actively developed around the world. PAVs are very vulnerable to lightning strikes, because of miniaturization, use of the electric engines, composite materials, and application of unmanned navigation systems. In this study, we first examined various steps of certifications for lightning indirect effects shown in AC 20 136B issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). We then applied certification guidelines for equipment transient design level listed in RTCA DO 160G Section 22 to PAVs and investigated lightning transient environments inside the PAVs. We also analyzed the aircraft level tests specified in SAE ARP 5416A by using electromagnetic computational analysis software EMA3D. Finally, we analyzed the actual transient level for PAVs and derived the data necessary for conformity certification.