Lightning strike protection system for aircraft fuel tanks made of low
electrical conductivity composite material. The system comprises an
electrical conductive thin wire mesh (1) that covers the whole external
surface of the tank outer skin (I) made of composite and a thick wire
metallic mesh (2) overlapping the mesh (1) at a minimum distance of 50 mm
to both sides of a row of fasteners (III) joining the said outer skin (I)
to one internal part (II) of either composite or metallic material. Both
metallic meshes (1, 2) maintain electrical contact by their
installation/assembly and by means of metallic countersunk head washers
(3) connected to bonding points and set to the gap existing between the
fastener (III) and the outer skin (I). The corresponding fabrication
process is also described.