25.981 is Not a Barrier – Part 2

September 18, 2018 Michael Traskos

FAA regulation 25.981 covers the requirements of fuel tank ignition prevention. While there are numerous elements that must be considered as part of the 25.981 regulation, this is a Lectromec series of articles, and here we focus on the electrical hazards that must be identified and mitigated as part of certification. Read more

25.981 is Not a Barrier

September 8, 2018 Michael Traskos

One area of aircraft certification where electrical energy and risk have always been considered is the fuel system. While it is obvious that limiting the exposure of fuel to electrical energy is advantageous, how this gets addressed from a safety and certification perspective is far from obvious. 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

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.

FAA AC 25.981-1C