Current wave-form observed during lightning strikes on aircraft

Abstract

A preliminary validation of a number of mechanisms that can be associated with the various phases encountered during in-flight lightning strikes are provided. It is known that a lightning strike on an aircraft occurs in several phases: a preparation phase, an electric arc attachment phase, a connection phase, and a re-light phase. This analysis is confined to the study of the readings obtained during the electric arc attachment phase and to experiments carried out to validate the scenarios that are currently understood. The objective of the analysis is to explain this attachment phase. A brief review of the experiments that are currently being performed in an attempt to understand the re-light phase is also presented.