[QUOTE=tdracer;10639358]The 787 has a copper mesh embedded in the carbon fiber matrix - the wing, fuselage, pretty much everywhere. In addition - due in part to the uncertainties in the lightning characteristics of carbon fiber - they added a metallic copper foil to the inside of the wing skin. Once they had real aircraft structure to test and analyze they were better able to quantify the lightning threat. /QUOTE]
There is no copper mesh in the 787 wing composite panels. You might be remembering some of the early design concepts that were discussed, but the final design has no copper mesh. The foil was on the outside surface in strips along the fastener rows, not on the inside, and was there to reduce the current driven through a fastener if lightning attached to or near that fastener. It provided a fail safe feature such that, if one of the other fastener features deteriorated or was left out in production, they still avoided an ignition source. They eliminated the foil because it was so troublesome to repair following a lightning strike, and they were willing to eliminate fail-safety in the design. The FAA staff objected to that.
Airbus doesn't have foil because they have copper mesh, which is pretty much the industry standard.
It's not at all fair for you to label Tom Thorson "reasonably sharp" as though you are much more intelligent than he is. His role is completely different from what yours was. He has to cover over a dozen different propulsion technical disciplines and their applicable regulatory and policy requirements, and he is knowledgeable in every one of them to an impressive depth. He also has working knowledge of airframe structural requirements, airplane performance requirements, systems requirements, structured system safety analysis, and environmental noise and emissions requirements. He is extremely hard working and dedicated. He worked on the space shuttle propulsion system before he worked for Boeing and later the FAA. You worked in a much narrower area for 35 years and became a deep expert in that area. I always respected your intelligence, knowledge, skills, and judgment, but don't damn Tom with faint praise. He has knowledge and experience in areas you aren't aware of. He's also very reserved and doesn't say much until he's sure about what he's saying. "Reasonably sharp" does not do him justice.