We are told that low humidity and cool temperatures are the best way to extend component life, but even in such conditions not all components can sit on a warehouse shelf indefinitely awaiting the day of installation. One of the more susceptible EWIS components to aging on the warehouse shelf are heat shrink tubing. Here, we examine concept of dimensional life of heat shrink tubing.
Read moreThe backshell of a connector is an item that perhaps does not get the attention that it should. Often the discussion of EWIS focuses on the wiring, the connectors, or managing the risk of EWIS failures, but the connector backshell is ignored. The simple connector backshell (that is anything but simple) is designed for support and protection of wires and cables physically and, in the case of signal cables, support and protect electrically too. The following is a brief introduction to backshells, their use, associated standards, and research that has been performed to determine what to look for when performing maintenance.
Read moreThe maintainability of the electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) is integral to the longevity of an aircraft. EWIS maintainability affects not only the EWIS itself, but any nearby system whose maintenance access is restricted by the location or function of the EWIS. Thus, high maintainability of the EWIS allows for faster, more efficient, and more precise maintenance of surrounding equipment and systems.
Original aircraft design must comply with EWIS regulations in the development stage to ensure long-term maintainability. It is important to know which regulations apply and which standards to follow when designing an aircraft to determine the appropriate maintenance requirements.
Here we will explore the requirements of some of the more common standards for EWIS maintainability in aircraft design.
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