Originally posted by sumi (reply 940)
Static dischargers are here to discharge static electricity, and when you get a lightning strike (can be anywhere on the fuselage, sometimes one or more "burn away", that's what they are installed for.
They are not installed for that purpose -
Airbus MM -
During flight the aircraft can become charged with static electricity. If the discharge of this static electricity is not controlled, it can cause interference in the communications and navigation systems. Static dischargers are installed on the aircraft to decrease the interference.
Boeing MM
Static dischargers are installed on the airplane to reduce radio receiver interference. This interference is caused by a corona discharge emitted from the airplane surfaces as a result of precipitation static and engine charging. Precipitation static results from an electric charge accumulated by the airplane striking charged air and moisture particles.
Static usually discharges at the wing and tail extremities and is coupled into the radio receiver antennas. The static dischargers are designed to discharge the static at points which are a critical length away from the wing and tail extremities where there is little or no coupling of the static into the radio receiver antennas.