This paper delineates the process for analytically determining the quantity of passive static dischargers that optimize the electrostatic protection of general aviation aircraft from the undesirable phenomenon known as precipitation static (P-static).
P-static, a form of electromagnetic (EM) energy, is typically created by the frictional charging of an aircraft as it impacts ice crystals, rain, snow, dust or other particles during flight resulting in a discharge of energy that interferes with avionics systems.
The static discharger analysis technique presented in this paper (refer to Figure 1) was demonstrated on the Beech Model 1900D Airliner, which is a high performance, T-tail, pressurized, twin-engine turboprop of conventional aluminum skin design.