AS50881 and EN3197 Harmonization

December 14, 2017 Tristan Epp Schmidt

Working from a common knowledge base is critical for part interoperability. Take a standard screw; to install it requires a screwdriver (Phillips or Flathead), lining the screw up with the hole, and rotating clockwise to drive the screw. The screw works the same in Europe as it does in America, though the measurements might be […] Read more

Fall 2017 SAE Wire and Cable Meeting Update

September 27, 2017 Michael Traskos

Every six months, the SAE wire system installation and wire/cable subcommittees come together to advance the state of the industry. This year, the Fall meeting was held in sunny Temecula, California. The following are some of the noteworthy items from this meeting. High Voltage Endurance The 8D task group on the evaluation of high voltage […] Read more

Fuel System Protection Part II

July 19, 2017 Michael Traskos

Lectromec has written multiple articles on fuel system safety as it relates to SFAR88, AC 25.981, and AC 25.1701. In this article, we continue the discussion by reviewing some of the recommendations that came out of the NTSB report on TWA 800 and subsequently influenced AC 25.981. Some of these recommendations may not apply to […] Read more

Developments in High-Voltage

May 10, 2017 Michael Traskos

The first meeting of the 8A and 8D committees for 2017 was held in Kissimmee Florida in April 2017. There were several topics discussed and voted upon that will have an impact on future wire component and system designs (previous article on SAE 8A/8D committee meeting available here). One common theme in the meeting was […] Read more

Next 15 Years of EWIS Design

February 24, 2017 Michael Traskos

The field of aircraft Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) has changed significantly in the last two decades. These changes have impacted the design, installation, maintenance, and sustainment of electrical wiring systems on aircraft. For example, increased electrical load requirements, materials restrictions, system safety assessment, and new regulations are just some of the areas that have […] Read more

How many Cables Should be Shielded?

January 27, 2017 Michael Traskos

A common question when it comes to designing an aircraft EWIS is which of the cables should be shielded? There are several standards, such as MIL-STD-461, “Requirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems and Equipment” provide an excellent basis for topics and testing that should be considered. But for those that are […] Read more

Avoiding Fuel Tank Ignition

November 21, 2016 Michael Traskos

The number of aircraft accidents involving fuel tank ignition has thankfully been very low. However, the growing use of electrical power in aircraft has increased the number of wires and the likelihood of being routed near fuel system components. The increased electrical component density comes with a higher probability of a failure event occurring. In […] Read more

Testing for AS50881

September 23, 2016 Michael Traskos

For several decades now, the AS50881 has been a fundamental knowledge base used for the installation of aircraft wiring systems. The requirements laid out in this standard cover the electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) design and recommendations on the selection of qualified parts. Additionally, the design must be verified to show compliance. For commercial aircraft, this may be done as part of the overall certification package. For the military, this may be part of design acceptance. This article covers some of the testing necessary for showing compliance with AS50881.

Use of Cables on Aircraft – Part 3 – Testing

August 3, 2016 Michael Traskos

To continue the series of articles on NEMA27500 cables discussing their use on aircraft (part 1 and 2), this article focuses on the several tests that are necessary for cable verification and certification. There is some level of performance verification for each part of an aircraft cable. Most cable assessment tests focus on the performance […] Read more

Use of Cables on Aircraft – Part 2

July 14, 2016 Michael Traskos

In this article, we will continue the discussion by exploring the NEMA27500 cable. Four sections were covered in the Part 1 (Specification, identification and shield coverage, conductor size, and wire specification). The remaining three parts covered here are the basic component wires, shielding materials, and the jacket materials. Read more

Standard & Regulation