How can you protect aeroplanes against lightning strikes?

Question: How can you protect aeroplanes against lightning strikes?
- Keywords:
  aeroplanes,
  lightning,
  plane,
  protect,
  strikes
Asked by xxbrunaxx to rhysphillips, David on 15 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by 07parrkye, hevaarawr, maxth13.
- Rhys Phillips answered on 15 Jun 2011:
  
  Metal aircraft don’t need protecting – they can conduct the electricity around the outside of the structure so it doesn’t cause damage. To protect non-metals, we currently add a thin layer of metal in to act as a conductor. I am now looking at new methods of protection which wouldn’t need adding on this extra weight.

Question: How can you protect aeroplanes against lightning strikes?