Certification by Analysis: Navigating Lightning, HIRF, and EMC Certification with Confidence

Overview

Indirect effects of lightning (IEL), High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF), and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) remain some of the most complex and misunderstood areas of aircraft certification. While modeling and simulation are increasingly used in E3 programs, certification success depends less on individual analyses and more on how evidence is planned, validated, documented, and presented within an acceptable regulatory framework.

This webinar focuses on certification approaches for E3, emphasizing principles, expectations, and lessons learned rather than specific tools or test replacement. Speakers will examine how regulators assess acceptable certification evidence, how modeling and physical testing work together within an E3 certification strategy, and where high-fidelity analysis can reduce iteration, improve focus, and strengthen certification confidence when properly validated.

Bringing together a DER perspective, a customer practitioner view, and real-world certification experience, the session explores common challenges in E3 certification for integrated aircraft platforms and highlights practical patterns for aligning modeling, testing, and documentation to meet regulatory expectations.

What Attendees Will Learn

• How regulators evaluate acceptable certification evidence for E3 compliance 
• What documentation, traceability, and validation practices matter most in E3 certification packages 
• How modeling and physical testing complement each other for lightning, HIRF, and EMC compliance 
• Common challenges encountered in planning and executing E3 certification programs 
• Practical approaches for using high-fidelity analysis early to focus test scope and reduce rework 
• Lessons learned from real-world E3 certification efforts on integrated aircraft platforms 

Who Should Attend

• E3, lightning, HIRF, and EMC engineers 
• Aircraft certification, compliance, and airworthiness engineers 
• DERs, ODA members, and regulatory participants 
• Systems and integration engineers working on complex aircraft platforms 
• Modeling and simulation leaders supporting certification programs 
• Engineering managers responsible for certification strategy, risk, and compliance planning 
• Organizations seeking to expand the role of analysis within E3 certification decisions

Speakers

• Guadalupe Gutiérrez , Airbus Defence & Space 
• Justin McKennon, CTO, EMA 
• Cody Weber, Principal Scientist II and Co-Owner, EMA