ISO 6722

May 5, 2025 Michael Traskos

The aerospace industry should consider automotive standards like the ISO 6722 as a basis for high-voltage wire qualification. Automotive and aerospace standards development around electrical wiring components will have common characteristics though some might argue that aerospace requires greater reliability. This article reviews the ISO 6722 standard and the performance characteristics that are expected of single core road vehicle wire with voltages between 60 and 600 volts. Read more

Aluminum Conductors

September 5, 2024 Michael Traskos

While there are benefits to replacing copper wires with aluminum, parts selection must align with the specific installation requirements. Here, we discuss the fundamentals of aluminum conductors, their limitations as described by aerospace standards, and techniques for their implementation. Read more

AS50881 and Connectors

June 3, 2024 Michael Traskos

Amidst the vast amount of aerospace standards, AS50881 stands out as a comprehensive guide to requirements to ensure wire termination safety specifically in connector installation and design. In this article, we discuss some of the important guidelines for connector installation, separation, and identification covered by AS50881. Read more

The Use of Splices

February 20, 2024 Michael Traskos

Though useful in repairs and modification, overuse of splices can lead to serious electrical and mechanical problems in an electrical system. This article discusses the applications and restrictions of electrical splices on aircraft. Read more

A Guide to Aircraft Lightning Standards

October 27, 2023 Laura Wishart

Lightning protection requirements are not as straightforward as looking up a numerical value for insulation resistance or verifying the interchangeability of connector pins, and it is not exclusively an EWIS issue. Adequate consideration involves high level evaluation of the aircraft as a whole. In this article we identify several standards and documents that offer guidance in aircraft lightning protection. Read more

Copper Hookup Wire

August 15, 2023 Michael Traskos

Aerospace standards like the ASTM B470 or the ASTM B355 provide specific performance characteristics of electrical wire conductors. This article discusses some of the test methods covered in these standards and how their implementation ensures acceptable quality in the development of aerospace wire. Read more

CFR 25.1717 – Circuit Protection and EWIS

June 30, 2023 Laura Wishart

Circuit protective devices are circuit components whose purpose is to disconnect power to the circuit in the event of a fault condition. The fault conditions vary based on the circuit type, attached equipment, and power capacity of the attached circuit. Some common fault conditions include overheating, overcurrent, and electrical arcing.

To meet the diverse needs of varying circuit designs and functions across electrical systems, several types of circuit protection are available. Each type has benefits and drawbacks, and it is important to evaluate each to determine the best option for a given electrical system. Read more

AIR7502 and Future Implications for Aviation

July 8, 2022 Laura Wishart

The AIR7502 defines voltage levels for HV aircraft and components. The extent to which AIR7502 is incorporated into the aerospace industry remains unsure, but the implications of the document are worth considering even before the document’s use is determined. Read more

EWIS High Voltage Certification

April 14, 2022 Michael Traskos

With the gradual industry implementation of high voltage EWIS systems in aviation, the demand for HV-specific safety standards is rapidly growing. High voltage OEMs currently use available industry standards, as applicable, but are still left with the task of developing and justifying their own system requirements. The SAE’s AS50881 standard, often considered the ‘go-to’ standard for OEMs, could benefit from proposed updates made to address the gaps for high voltage systems. Read more

Risk Assessment and Small Aircraft Certification

November 17, 2021 Michael Traskos

The basic idea behind the F3230 is to limit the total number of assessments to those that are of particular concern for aircraft safety. This aligns with the change of part 23 aircraft the FAA has implemented for a more performance-based certification approach versus the detailed and prescriptive approach that the FAA used prior to 2016. Read more

Standard & Regulation