Basic concepts in understanding aircraft wire degradation

July 19, 2011 Michael Traskos

Aircraft wire degradation often means a reduction in a wire insulation’s ability to withstand physical, electrical, or chemical strain. Such reductions can lead to insulation breaches, which can result in system interruption. All modern wire insulations are long chains of molecules called polymers. Over time, due to various types of stress, there is wire degradation. […] Read more

When should you consider adopting an aircraft wire life extension program? Part IV

July 17, 2011 Michael Traskos

Subtopic: Applying Technology to your Fleet – Step #1 For purposes of aircraft wire life extension, start with identifying what wires are on the aircraft (see Lectromec’s When should you consider adopting a wire life extension program? Part III article article). It is then necessary to perform a selective sampling of the aircraft. Obviously, the […] Read more

When should you consider adopting an aircraft wire life extension program? Part III

July 4, 2011 Michael Traskos

This is the third article in a series addressing the concepts associated with wire life extension and an Electrical Wire Interconnection System (EWIS) analysis of aging aircraft. The When should you consider adopting an aircraft wire life extension program? article addressed some of the fundamental concepts behind risk and risk assessment and how they are […] Read more

Implications of circuit breakers and wire size for wire systems

June 27, 2011 Michael Traskos

Circuit breakers are designed to activate (open the circuit) when the electrical current is in excess of the device rating. This is done to protect both the electrical device and the wiring. As such, it is important to size the circuit breaker to meet the electrical needs of the circuit as well as prevent overheating and damage to the wiring. This article lists the factors that affect the wire/circuit breaker selection. Read more

When should you consider adopting an aircraft wire life extension program? Part II

June 22, 2011 Michael Traskos

This is the second in a series of articles addressing the concepts associated with an Electrical Wire Interconnection System (EWIS) analysis of aging aircraft. In other words, when to consider an aircraft wire life extension program. The last article addressed the reasons to consider implementing EWIS assessment as part of a wire life extension program. This article […] Read more

When should you consider adopting an aircraft wire life extension program? Part I

June 6, 2011 Michael Traskos

Editor’s Note: This is the first part in a series of articles that addresses the needs of EWIS analysis and aging aircraft. In the course of planning for your aircraft wire life extension program, eventually it becomes necessary to considering the wire system health. Like all other system components, wires (particularly the wire insulation) degrade […] Read more

Electrical arcing of aircraft wire is hazardous even over separation

May 30, 2011 Michael Traskos

Research shows hydraulic line can be punctured without direct contact with arcing wire Recent research conducted by Lectromec confirmed the harmful effects of electrical arcing of aircraft wire events even in the presence of positive separation between the arcing source and the arcing target. Laboratory tests using hydraulic lines as arcing targets showed that, even […] Read more

XL-ETFE aircraft wire degradation

May 30, 2011 Michael Traskos

XL-ETFE insulated wires can be found on many commercial and military aircraft built since the 1980s and need to be included in the study of XL-ETFE aircraft wire degradation. As such, some aircraft have been operating for 30 years with the same wiring. The question that becomes more important with each passing day is the […] Read more

EZAP, the FAA, and the electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS)

May 17, 2011 Michael Traskos

The Enhanced Zonal Awareness procedure (EZAP) was introduced to the aviation industry that applies to Electrical Wire Interconnection System in 2005 was part of the FAA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that covered new requirements for the assessments of new and existing aircraft (the final rule was enacted in 2007). This required existing fleet operators […] Read more

Aircraft wire insulation degradation and advancements with WIDAS 2.0

May 5, 2011 Michael Traskos

A fundamental principle of wire analysis technologies has been the fact that wire insulations degrade over time. To this end, Lectromec developed the first generation of the Wire Insulation Degradation Analysis System (WIDAS) in the early 1990’s. The WIDAS targeted the particular needs of aircraft operators who needed a scientific basis for making fleet maintenance […] Read more

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