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As part of an update of all of the lightning-related advisory materials for aircraft certification purposes, SAE Committee AE4L and EUROCAE Working Group 31 have completed preparation of a new standard for location of lightning strike zones on aircraft surfaces [Ref. 1]. This new standard is intended to replace the zoning guidelines presently found in US FAA Advisory Circular 20-53A (for fuel systems) and 20-136 (for electronics systems) and in certain military standards, and is known as “the zoning standard”. The new Zoning Standard includes clearer definitions of the lightning strike zones and adds a transition zone between presently defined Zones 1A and 2A. Much of the document addresses the methods to locate the various zones in aircraft and helicopters. This standard, together with a new Environment Standard and updates of the existing FAA AC’s on lightning protection certification, are expected to be formally adopted by the FAA and JAA.