This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) is limited to the subject of aircraft fuel system plumbing systems and the questions concerning the requirements for electrical bonding of the various components of the system as related to Static Electric Charges, Electromagnectic Interference (EMI) and Lightning Strikes (Direct and Indirect Effects)

Purpose:

The purpose of this document is to provide some guidelines for the analysis of the requirements for electrical bonding of the fluid lines and components of an aircraft fuel system as related to the various potential electrical charges and currents that may be applied to various portions of the system as a result of the system operation or external sources. There are many unanswered questions and more firm data is needed to better analyze and resolve the problems that develop.

Field of Application:

The information included in this document is generally applicable to all types of vehicles subject to flight. As aircraft are built with greater use of composite materials, the concerns become greater as a result of the higher electrical resistance values for such material.