In order to protect aircraft against lightning direct effects (LDE), one of the key steps is to define the airframe lightning zoning, thus establishing the structural surface locations most likely to be struck and their associated potential severity of strikes from a certification perspective. The protection means provided at each location will then be tailored to suit the anticipated worst case threat. EUROCAE Working Group 31 and SAE AE2 committee have jointly developed methodology to support the aircraft manufacturer in the lightning zoning definition process. This advisory material is contained in ED-91[Ref 1] and ARP 5414A [Ref2]. Discussions ongoing in SAE AE2 ARP 5414B Lightning Zoning Task Group have highlighted the need to review the present lightning zoning criteria. Airframe manufacturers are therefore collating their in service experience to support this review. This paper documents the present Airbus Civil Aircraft fleet lightning strike experience including data from the single aisle, long range and large double deck aircraft programmes. Three main topics are addressed:- (1) A statistical study will show the frequency of lightning events for each aircraft programme and the extent of damage vs location. (2) The severity of the resultant damages will also be studied to analyse the performance of the protection for each aircraft zone. (3) A localised study of the wing tip regions to assess, the impact of wingtip geometry on existing zoning. Conclusions and recommendations are then identified in support of the ongoing aircraft lightning zoning discussion.
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