RTCA DO 160 qualification tests
A complete aeronautical qualification
Introduction to RTCA DO 160 (Environmental Conditions and test Procedures for Airborne Equipment)
The RTCA DO-160 (or EUROCAE ED-14) standard defines the environmental, electrical and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test requirements to be met by electronic equipment carried on board civil aircraft. It applies to all avionics systems, electrical and electronic equipment used in the constrained environment of aeronautics.
The Emitech Group can help you validate your products in accordance with DO-160 and, on request, can include manufacturers' specifications (Airbus, Boeing, Dassault, etc.). Our test laboratories can offer you a complete qualification package, from drafting test plans to carrying out the tests and delivering the reports you need for certification.
Which assemblies or sub-assemblies are affected?
Examples include:
- Avionics equipment: on-board computers, sensors, input/output modules, data processing units.
- Power supply chains: batteries, converters, power supplies and electrical distribution systems.
- Communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) systems.
- Safety equipment, cabin and cockpit lighting, control and display devices.
- Propulsion and control systems: actuators, control boxes, engine peripheral equipment.
This list is indicative and may be extended to other electrical or electronic equipment integrated into sub-assemblies such as landing gear, flight control or wing control systems, provided that they are subject to the environmental conditions defined by DO-160.
Tests covered by the Emitech Group under the DO 160 standard
Climatic and mechanical environment
- Section 4: Temperature and altitude
- Section 5: Temperature variation
- Section 6: Humidity
- Section 7: Operational Shocks and Crash Safety
- Section 8: Vibration
- Section 9: Explosive Atmosphere
- Section 10: Waterproofness
- Section 11: Fluid Susceptibility
- Section 12: Sand and Dust
- Section 13: Fungus Resistance
- Section 14: Salt Spray
- Section 24: Icing
- Section 26: Fire Flammability
Electrical and EMC testing
- Section 15: Magnetic effect
- Section 16: Power Inputs
- Section 17: Voltage Spike
- Section 18: Audio Frequency Conducted Susceptibility - Power Inputs
- Section 19: Induced Signal Susceptibility
- Section 20: Radio Frequency Susceptibility (Radiated and Conducted)
- Section 21: Emission of Radio Frequency Energy
- Section 22: Lightning Induced Transcient Susceptibility
- Section 25: Electrostatic Discharges (ESD)
Dedicated testing facilities to implement the various sections and meet your schedule and deadline constraints
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
- Extra-large Faraday cages for large equipment (up to 9.45 m) and heavy loads (40 t), complementing our other cages
- Radiated immunity from 10 kHz to 40 GHz, up to 3000 V/m in CW and 10,000 V/m in pulsed mode (HIRF)
- Conduction immunity up to 1 A calibrated, up to 400 MHz
- 6 CRBMs (Mode-Mixing Reverberation Chambers) – DO-160
- RF emission measurements: DC to 40 GHz, magnetic & electric fields
- Complete set of lightning generators (indirect effects DO-160 & ABD0100.1.2) all waveforms DO-160, injections on pins and cables.
- ESD up to 30 kV
- Electrical compatibility testing, all DC and AC networks, including high power
Aeronautical fire tests
- Cabin & cargo compartment interior tests in accordance with FAR 25, CS 23/25/29
- AIRBUS (ABD0031, AITM) & BOEING (BSS7238/7239) methods
- Seat cushion test, flame propagation, opacity & smoke toxicity
Climatic and physico-chemical tests
- 140+ environmental chambers (up to 93 m³, temperatures from -70 to +650°C)
- Fluid testing (Skydrol, oil, fuel, etc.)
- Contamination, sunshine, rain, icing, etc.
Vibration and mechanical testing
- 50+ electrodynamic vibrators (up to 105 kN), hydraulic cylinders, impact machines
Our associated engineering services
- Drafting of qualification plans and test specifications
- Structural studies and fatigue calculations (ANSYS, DESIGNLIFE)
- EMC calculations and simulations (CST Microwave Studio)
- Development of test benches and fixing tools
- Customisation of on-board tests and measurements
Why choose the expertise of the Emitech Group?
- Multi-domain and multi-site expertise: a network of specialised laboratories (EMC, climatic, fire, vibration, etc.)
- Our certifications and accreditations
- Experience on major programmes: A320neo, A350, Falcon, etc.
- Global support: testing, engineering, test bench design, regulatory advice
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