SIR ATTACHMENT 2- PWS Lightning Protection Training 4.29.2026.pdf

Performance Work Statement (PWS) Aircraft Workforce Development Branch – Lightning Protection for Aircraft Training

Federal Aviation Administration

Performance Work Statement

Lightning Protection for Aircraft Training

FAA28476

April 2026

A. PROJECT/TITLE

Lightning Protection for Aircraft Training (FAA28476) for Aircraft Certification and Flight Standards Airworthiness Inspectors / Aerospace Engineers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This course is an aircraft certification course designed primarily for engineers involved in the review of analysis submitted by applicants which may involve probability studies or statistical analysis.

If the low offeror is an accredited college, the FAA desires college credits be offered to trainees who successfully complete the proposed training. This is not a mandatory requirement and will not be used as an evaluation factor.

B. BACKGROUND

Under Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.), the FAA is authorized to train employees as necessary in the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of the Administrator. The interests of the public, the safety of the workforce, and the credibility of the organization are best served by having qualified, proficient, and current inspectors conducting surveillance, testing, and checking functions.

C. SCOPE

The contractor is to provide Lightning Protection initial training to FAA Airworthiness Inspectors / Aerospace Engineers. The contractor may provide this training through their standard courses offered to the public, other Government agencies or by submitting courses solely intended for FAA inspectors.

The FAA estimates this course is to provide approximately 36 hours of instruction and class size should not exceed a maximum of 12 students.

Student quotas will be determined by Aircraft Certification Service – Planning and Program Division (AIR-900) and Flight Standards Service Training Division (AFB-500). FAA formal training consists of training courses with agency level course numbers that will be officially recorded in the employee’s personnel records.

The tuition cost should be based on a per class basis. All travel and per diem costs will be the responsibility of the FAA.

D. QUALITY ASSURANCE

Public Law (current Consolidated Appropriations Act) requires that all technical training meet the requirements of the Current Consolidated Appropriations Act. None of the funds made available in this Act may be obligated or expended for any employee training that:

a. Does not meet identified needs for knowledge, skills, and abilities bearing directly upon the performance of official duties.

b. Contains elements likely to induce high levels of emotional response or psychological stress in some learners.

c. Does not require prior learner notification of the content and methods to be used in the training and written end-of-course evaluation.

d. Contains any methods or content associated with religious or quasi-religious belief systems or ‘‘new age’’ belief systems as defined in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Notice N– 915.022, dated September 2, 1988.

e. Is offensive to, or designed to change, learners’ personal values or lifestyle outside the workplace.

E. DEFINITIONS

The following definitions are used to define the terminology contained herein:

1. Contracting Officer (CO): The person authorized to act on behalf of the Government to negotiate and award contracts and modifications thereto, and to administer contracts through completion or termination. Except for certain limited authority delegated by the Contracting Officer to a technical representative, the Contracting Officer is the only individual with the authority to direct the work of the Contractor.

2. Contracting Officer's Representative (COR): The authorized Government representative(s) acting within the limits of their delegated authority for management of specific projects or functional activities.

3. DOT: Department of Transportation

4. FAA: Federal Aviation Administration

F. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

Title 14 of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR), Parts 91, 121, and 135. The applicable regulations are available for download, in pdf format, from www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/faa_regulations/

Title 49 of the United States Code available at http://uscode.house.gov/download/download.shtml

G. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Daily Sessions: Begin when the student shows at the contractor facility for training each day and runs for a maximum of 10 hours to include breaks.

2. Level of Training: FAA personnel are expected to perform at a level compatible with the highest standards of the specialty. Accordingly, each course of instruction must adhere to the adult learning principles, which include but are not limited to:

a. Focus the training on "Real World" situations and applications.

b. Emphasize how the training can be applied.

c. Relate the training to the instructional objectives.

d. If possible, relate the training materials to the FAA employees past experiences.

e. Allow reasonable debate and challenge of ideas.

f. Encourage FAA employees to be resources to one another.

http://uscode.house.gov/download/download.shtml

3. To the maximum extent possible, training should not commence during the week of a scheduled federal holiday, nor be conducted on a weekend. Training shall be conducted Monday through Friday and is to be continuous during these days except for federally established holidays. Local or state holidays must not interrupt the training period. Normal hours of training should not begin later than 9:00 a.m. local time. Should a requirement exist to change either the hours or days of training indicated, the change must be coordinated in advance with the FAA COR.

4. The Contractor must provide Instructor Led Training (ILT) in a Brick-and-Mortar Training

Facility located in the United States and preferably within 25 miles of a major airport serviced by at least one major US air carrier. In addition, training facilities must comply with the following:

a. Classrooms must be large enough to accommodate at least the entire class plus one observer, with either desks or tables large enough to allow the students to be able to take notes and still have space for them to keep their reference books open during lecture periods. Student chairs must be ergonomically appropriate for 8-hour occupancy.

b. Sufficient presentation boards for effective teaching shall be provided.

c. The classroom shall be well lighted. There shall be not less than 30 footcandles of illumination at the student's desk or table.

d. The classroom shall be cleaned not less than two times each week of instruction.

e. Sanitary restroom facilities shall be available within convenient distance of the classroom.

f. The classroom facilities shall be adequately ventilated; heated in winter and cooled in summer.

Temperature range shall not exceed 68 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit.

g. Ambient noise shall be below the distraction point. At any position in the classroom, normal instructor voice levels should exceed the ambient noise level by 20 decibels.

h. Contractor shall comply with safety standards specified by the National Electrical Code, the

National Fire Code, and the United States of America Standards Institute in conducting contract training. Each class shall receive a briefing on safety and security procedures to ensure proper egress in the event of any foreseeable emergency.

i. Local environmental distraction adversely affecting student learning shall be eliminated.

j. Adequate free student parking shall be available near the training site.

k. Visual aids used in the classroom to describe specific aircraft system or aircraft components shall be legible, visible from each student station, and color enhanced as necessary to show each system operating mode.

l. Classrooms must have at least one computer with internet access and printer available for student use.

5. Instructor Requirements: The Contractor must provide professional technician and/or engineer instructors who has extensive experience in delivering training related to Lightning Protection for Aircraft. In addition, instructors shall, at a minimum include the following:

a. An engineering degree with a background in testing and evaluating Lightning Protection for Aircraft; and

b. A minimum of three (3) years of industry experience; and

c. A minimum of three (3) years teaching experience

6. All instruction must be presented by a qualified instructor in an instructor-led classroom environment (in-person) as the preferred method of training unless there is a natural disaster or pandemic. If the training cannot be conducted in a brick-and-mortar environment, Computer-Based Instruction (CBI) or Virtual Training is allowed at the discretion of the Government and with concurrence of the vendor.

If CBI or Virtual Training is used to accomplish training, then the following requirements must be met:

a. Prior to training, provide information to the COR on the computer-based platform being utilized for approval to include number of hours and the number of training days.

b. Students shall receive a thorough briefing on the operation and use of the software prior to start of first date of course for accessing the virtual platform. If workbook materials are required for CBI training, students must receive material 10 days prior to training.

c. Provide Time Zone training will be conducted.

d. At least one instructor shall be present or readily accessible by electronic means to resolve any problems or questions that the FAA may have regarding the material presented in the course.

e. All material presented by CBI shall be reviewed and reinforced by a qualified instructor in classroom discussion or one-on-one with the Safety Inspector.

7. Training Requirements:

a. At least two weeks prior to any course, provide each registered student with the training site address, map and/or directions to the training site, a local point of contact and telephone number, and commercially available lodging near the training site.

b. Provide a copy of the syllabus, training schedule and course description, course reference book and any other course materials needed to each Safety Inspector on the first training day of each training course.

8. Student Reports and Grade:

a. The FAA will provide a final roster prior to beginning of class. Notify the COR of any non-attendance on the first day of training and throughout the course. In the event the FAA Safety Inspector fails to report for training as scheduled, or should become ill, injured, or incapacitated during the training period the contractor shall promptly notify the COR and the Safety Inspector emergency contact, if known.

b. Upon successful completion of all training the contractor shall issue a Certificate of Completion (PDF) for each attendee identifying the type of training provided, specific dates, and the duration of such training. One copy must be submitted to the COR and the student prior to invoice processing.

c. The contractor shall, within two weeks after class completion, furnish a report to the COR reflecting the student's final grades, attendance records, and any additional comments deemed necessary concerning his/her attitude and ability. Each student shall receive a certificate of graduation, pending completion of required performance or knowledge testing if applicable.

When applicable, testing may be conducted with open textbook for reference.

H. TRAINING OUTCOMES for Lightning Protection of Aicraft.

1.. After completion of the classroom presentations the participant will understand and be able to describe:

• Natural lightning

• Cloud Formation and Electrification

• Formation of the Cloud-to-Earth Lightning Flash

• Intra cloud Flashes and Other types of Lightning Flashes

• Frequency of Occurrence

• Electrical Characteristics of Lightning Flash Currents

• Lightning Interaction with Aircraft

• Lightning Attachment Process

• Aircraft Initiated Lightning

• Swept Leaders and Swept Stroke locations

• Zone Location Methods

• Strike Attachment Scenarios

• Implications of the Strike attachment Process to Protection Design and Testing

• Statistics of Lightning Strike Encounters

• Accidents, Incidents and Lessons Learned

• Lightning Effects on Aircraft

• Metallic Structures

• Non-metallic Structures

• Fuel and Propulsion Systems

• Electrical/Electronic Systems

• Personnel

• Lightning Test Criteria and Standards

• U.S. FAA and European JAA Lightning Protection Regulations

• Advisory Circulars pertaining to Lightning Protection

• U.S. DoD Requirements and Standards MIL-STD-157 and MIL-STD 1795

• SAE, RTCA and EUROCARE Reports and Test Standards DO-160/ED14 Section 22 and 23

• Forthcoming New and Updated Requirements and Advisory Circulars Basic Steps in

Lightning Protection Design and Certification

• Location of the Lightning Strikes Zones

• Establishment of the Lightning Environment

• Establishment of Protection Pass/Fail Criteria

• Establishment of Transient Control Levels (TCLs) and Equipment transient Design

Levels (ETDLs)

• Design of Lightning Protection

• Verification of Protection Adequacy

• Documentation

• Preparing a Certification Plan

• Direct Effects on Structures and Fuel Systems

• Indirect Effects on Electrical and Avionics Systems

• Static Electrification and Protection

• Static Charging Mechanisms

• Precipitation Static Corona Discharges and Coupling Processes

• Physical Damage Mechanisms

• In-flight Measurements

• Protection Methods; Static Discharges and Antistatic Treatments

• Protection verification Methods

• Electrical Resistivity measurements

• Static Charge Testing

• Unique Design Problems and Solutions

• Modifications and Upgrades

• Advanced Composite Structures

• High Authority Electronic Systems

• Very Light Aircraft

• Organization and Management of Successful Lightning Protection Design and

Certification Programs

• Recent Research Programs

• Laboratory Demonstrations of Simulated Lightning Testing

• Direct and Indirect Effects

• Testing Methods and Equipment

• Static Electrification

2. Laboratory Demonstrations

After the students receive instruction on important aspects of test setup, testing laboratory safety, instrumentation and measurements, and documentation of results the following will be demonstrated:

• High voltage strike attachments test used to locate initial lightning strike attachment regions on aircraft or to determine whether or not non-conducting surfaces will puncture.

• High current test to verify the adequacy of lightning protection for composite skins or other structures or of fuel tank structures or system installations, as required by CFRs

25.587 and 25.954 (and corresponding CFRs for other aircraft categories) and related FAA Advisory Circulars and industry standards.

• Induced transient tests of avionic equipment as required for demonstration of compliance with CFRs applicable to lightning certification of electrical and avionics equipment.