ALISDAR: An Automatic Lightning System Detection and Recording

In the framework of an EC (European Community) project EM-HAZ (Electromagnetic Hazard), an Automatic Lightning System Detection And Recording (ALISDAR) has been developed. Electrical and magnetic field measurements are the best way to characterize the lightning strike to aircraft. A finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is used to estimate the lightning current from E and H field measurements. The severity and the location of the lightning strike could be used to optimize the maintenance operations. The best location in terms of cost for the ALISDAR sensors is a dummy window. The validation of the ALISDAR system is planned through two laboratory experiments.