EMC and lightning studies for Airbus
‘The effects of lightning and electromagnetic disturbances are major safety issues,’ explains Gwénaëlle Renouard-Vallet, Head of Lightning Protection at Airbus. Sopemea is involved in programme certification, risk mapping and dossier preparation for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA - United States).
‘We support Airbus in the EMC qualification of equipment, ranging from vital systems to more peripheral ones, to ensure aircraft safety,’ explains Jean-Luc Le Doaré, Head of the Design Department at Sopemea. A key element is the ‘transfer function’ test, which simulates the impact of lightning on aircraft to test their integrity. ‘These complex tests guarantee the resistance of our systems in extreme conditions,’ adds Gwénaëlle Renouard-Vallet.
In order to achieve the final objective, Sopemea not only carries out tests of varying complexity, foremost among which is the famous transfer function that guarantees the integrity of on-board systems in flight, but also drafts plans, procedures and reports and provides support during testing, a high-level service for which the Design Department is also called upon.
We are working alongside Airbus to prepare for the future and build the aircraft of tomorrow.
Today, collaboration continues on groundbreaking projects such as zero-emission aircraft. ‘The ecosystem is still under construction, but we are working alongside Airbus to prepare for the future and the aircraft of tomorrow,’ emphasises Jean-Luc Le Doaré. This partnership is based on mutual trust and technical expertise, which are essential for meeting the challenges of tomorrow and ensuring aviation safety.
Today, Sopemea supports AIRBUS in its research and development projects, with ambitious decarbonisation targets through its ‘Propulsion of tomorrow’ and ‘ZeroE’ (for Zero Emission) programmes. In the military field, our teams are also working on developments for the MRTT multi-role aircraft (based on the A330) and a feasibility study for the French Navy's maritime patrol aircraft (based on the A321 XLR).
How are aircraft protected from lightning?
Sopemea explains
When lightning strikes an aircraft, whether on the ground or in flight, it is essential to know whether the internal systems (such as cables) and the external structure will withstand the impact.
Lightning transfer functions are tools that help us accurately measure how lightning current and voltage behave inside and on the aircraft.
We simulate lightning strikes on an aircraft on the ground to study the effects. Computer simulations allow us to refine these tests and predict what would happen if the aircraft were in flight.
Other similar tools also help us understand how the aircraft reacts to other external stresses.
In short, the objective is always the same: to ensure that there is sufficient safety margin for all aircraft systems to function perfectly, even in the event of a lightning strike or other external stresses, thus guaranteeing flight safety.
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