Lightning protection in aircrafts constructed with carbon fiber reinforced plastic

A composite structure for an aircraft, the composite structure comprising:

• a plurality of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) panels that are horizontally adjacent with one another, wherein neighboring CFRP panels are in direct contact with each other, each CFRP panel including:
• an upper surface having a mesh foil;
• a fastener inserted through the CFRP panel in a vertical direction, the fastener configured to secure the CFRP panel to a metallic frame of the aircraft, located proximate to a lower surface of the CFRP panel;
• and
• a plurality of distinct electrically conductive pins extending in the vertical direction to electrically connect the mesh foil and the metallic frame of the aircraft, wherein a diameter of each of the pins is less than a diameter of the fastener.

A composite structure for an aircraft, the composite structure comprising:

• a plurality of composite panels that form a wing of the aircraft, wherein the composite panels are horizontally adjacent with one another, each composite panel including:
• an upper surface having a metal mesh;
• a fastener inserted through the composite panel in a vertical direction, the fastener configured to secure the composite panel to a frame of the aircraft located proximate to a lower surface of the composite panel;
• and
• a plurality of electrically conductive pins extending in the vertical direction to electrically connect the upper surface of the composite panel and the frame of the aircraft.