26th Congress of International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences
including the 8th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conference
14 - 19 September 2008, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Paper ICAS 2008-9.4.5 (AIAA 2008-8964 )

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS OF MSG-3 (MAINTANANCE STEERING GROUP) GUIDANCE FOR THE CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS OF LIGHTNING/HIRF PROTECTION AND BENFITS TO NEW AIRPLANE DESIGN

G. J. Sweers, J. P. Fielding*
The Boeing Company, USA; *Cranfield Univ., UK

Keywords: Maintenance, continued airworthiness, MSG-3, lightning

Maintenance guidelines for creation of scheduled aircraft maintenance programs contained in the Air Transport Association (ATA) MSG-3 document have been recently revised (2007), and require new aircraft designs to follow a significantly revised methodology for lightning/HIRF (L/HIRF) protection. With the conclusion of an ATA Task Force in July of 2005 [8], a new lightning/HIRF protection maintenance analysis methodology was harmonized among aircraft manufacturers and ATA members. Once adopted by the International MRB Policy Board (IMRBPB) consisting of ATA, FAA, CAA and EASA representatives, this methodology was included in a revision to the MSG-3 document guidelines in MSG-3 Revision 2007.1[1]. Along with the methodology revision, specific written guidance contained within the MSG-3 document has also been modified and requires interpretation for new transport category aircraft designers. This document change provided the industry an opportunity to clarify and enhance significant policy guidance on the following important topics for which this paper will address: 1. Implications of an Engineering Validation Program to the MSG-3 analysis 2. Lightning/HIRF protection components identification process 3. Lightning/HIRF protection susceptibility to Environmental Deterioration and Accidental Damage (ED/AD) 4. MSG-3 analysis of “common cause” degradation 5. Specific criteria for “No dedicated maintenance” of protection components 6. The definition of new terms such as: L/HIRF Protection System, L/HIRF Protection Component, L/HIRF Protection Characteristics.

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