Radiometrics Midwest Corporation provides aerospace EMC testing for airborne electronic equipment, aircraft systems and aerospace components at our A2LA-accredited EMC laboratory in Illinois.
Radiometrics has extensive experience with RTCA DO-160 testing and aerospace EMC engineering. Radiometrics personnel have also participated in RTCA standards activities involving electromagnetic compatibility requirements for equipment used aboard commercial and general aviation aircraft.
RTCA DO-160 EMC Testing
RTCA DO-160, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment, establishes environmental test procedures for airborne electronic equipment.
The EMC portions of DO-160 address power input, voltage disturbances, induced signals, radio-frequency susceptibility, RF emissions, lightning-induced transients, electrostatic discharge and other electromagnetic effects.
Radiometrics can review the applicable DO-160 sections, categories and equipment configuration with the manufacturer before testing begins.
RTCA DO-160 Testing Capabilities
Radiometrics’ aerospace EMC capabilities include testing associated with:
- Section 15 — Magnetic Effect
- Section 16 — Power Input
- Section 17 — Voltage Spike
- Section 18 — Audio Frequency Conducted Susceptibility
- Section 19 — Induced Signal Susceptibility
- Section 20 — Radio Frequency Susceptibility
- Section 21 — Emission of Radio Frequency Energy
- Section 22 — Lightning Induced Transient Susceptibility
- Section 25 — Electrostatic Discharge
The applicable sections, categories, test levels and configurations depend on the equipment, aircraft installation and qualification requirements.
DO-160 Section 20 — Radio Frequency Susceptibility
Section 20 evaluates equipment susceptibility to radio-frequency electromagnetic energy.
Testing can include conducted RF susceptibility applied through cables as well as radiated RF susceptibility using controlled electromagnetic fields.
Radiometrics performs applicable Section 20 testing within our laboratory capabilities and accredited scope.
DO-160 Section 21 — Emission of Radio Frequency Energy
Section 21 evaluates radio-frequency energy generated by airborne equipment that could interfere with other aircraft systems.
Testing can include conducted and radiated RF emissions measurements using the applicable limits, frequency ranges and equipment categories.
Radiometrics’ accredited scope includes RTCA DO-160 Section 21 radiated and conducted emissions measurements.
DO-160 Section 22 — Lightning Induced Transient Susceptibility
Aircraft wiring and equipment can be exposed to transient disturbances resulting from lightning-related electromagnetic coupling.
DO-160 Section 22 evaluates equipment susceptibility to specified lightning-induced transient waveforms.
Radiometrics performs applicable Section 22 testing within our laboratory capabilities, including applicable waveform sets.
DO-160 Section 25 — Electrostatic Discharge
Section 25 evaluates the ability of airborne equipment to withstand electrostatic discharge events associated with personnel and handling.
Radiometrics performs applicable DO-160 electrostatic discharge testing while equipment operation and required performance are monitored.
Power Input, Voltage Spike and Induced Signal Testing
Radiometrics also supports applicable DO-160 testing involving:
- Section 16 — Power Input
- Section 17 — Voltage Spike
- Section 18 — Audio Frequency Conducted Susceptibility
- Section 19 — Induced Signal Susceptibility
These tests evaluate equipment performance when exposed to electrical disturbances that can occur through aircraft power and interconnection systems.
Magnetic Effect Testing
DO-160 Section 15 addresses the magnetic effect of airborne equipment.
Radiometrics performs applicable magnetic-effect testing within our aerospace EMC capabilities.
RTCA Standards Experience
Radiometrics’ aerospace experience extends beyond performing established test procedures. Radiometrics personnel have participated in RTCA standards activities involving the development of DO-160 electromagnetic compatibility requirements for electronic equipment used aboard commercial and general aviation aircraft.
Radiometrics personnel were also involved with RTCA work investigating potential interference to aircraft electronic equipment from portable electronic devices carried aboard aircraft, including work associated with RTCA/DO-199.
This direct standards experience provides valuable perspective when unusual equipment configurations, test interpretations or EMC compliance questions arise.
Commercial, General and Specialized Aviation
Radiometrics can support EMC testing for a range of aerospace applications, including:
- Commercial aviation electronics
- General aviation equipment
- Aircraft electronic modules
- Navigation and communication equipment
- Control systems
- Displays and instrumentation
- Power electronics
- Aircraft subsystems
- Specialized aerospace electronics
Testing can support product development, qualification, design changes and investigation of EMC problems.
Space and Space-Platform EMC Testing
Radiometrics also has experience with EMC testing for space-related programs and complex aerospace equipment.
Previous Radiometrics work has included systems associated with the International Space Station and other space-exploration platforms.
Our experience includes work involving Space Station electromagnetic emissions and susceptibility requirements and electromagnetic test techniques, as well as MIL-STD-461 requirements applicable to certain space and launch-vehicle systems.
Radiometrics’ Space Station EMC experience has included work involving:
- SSP-30237E — Space Station Electromagnetic Emissions and Susceptibility Requirements
- SSP 30238 — NASA Space Station Electromagnetic Techniques
- SSP 30242 — NASA Space Station requirements
- MIL-STD-461 requirements applicable to space systems and launch vehicles
These references represent specialized Radiometrics experience with space-program EMC requirements in addition to our commercial and general aviation work.
MIL-STD-461 Aerospace and Space Applications
Some aerospace, space and defense equipment programs use MIL-STD-461 requirements in addition to or instead of RTCA DO-160.
Radiometrics performs a broad range of MIL-STD-461 emissions and susceptibility testing and can coordinate applicable military EMC requirements with aerospace test programs.
Aerospace Pre-Compliance Testing
Aerospace qualification failures can result in significant schedule and redesign costs.
Pre-compliance testing allows emissions, susceptibility and transient problems to be identified while engineering changes can still be evaluated efficiently.
Radiometrics can perform focused developmental measurements before formal qualification to help identify potential EMC problems.
Aerospace EMC Troubleshooting
When equipment does not meet an emissions or susceptibility requirement, Radiometrics can work with the manufacturer’s engineering team to characterize the failure.
Potential areas of investigation can include:
- Shielding
- Grounding and bonding
- Cable configuration
- Power-input filtering
- Interface filtering
- Enclosure design
- Power supplies
- Digital circuitry
- Equipment operating modes
Where practical, corrective changes can be evaluated during testing to determine whether they improve EMC performance.
Information Needed for an Aerospace EMC Quote
Please provide the following information when available:
- Equipment or system description
- Applicable RTCA DO-160 revision
- Required DO-160 sections
- Required categories and test levels
- Customer or aircraft-manufacturer specification
- Product dimensions and weight
- AC or DC power requirements
- External cables and interfaces
- Required operating modes
- Equipment performance criteria
- Support equipment required during testing
- Drawings or photographs
- Previous EMC test reports, when available
If the required DO-160 sections or categories are uncertain, Radiometrics can review the available product and installation information before preparing the test program.
Why Radiometrics for Aerospace EMC Testing?
Radiometrics combines decades of EMC testing experience with direct participation in aerospace EMC standards activities.
Our capabilities include RF emissions, RF susceptibility, electrical transients, electrostatic discharge, magnetic effects, MIL-STD-461 testing and engineering troubleshooting.
This combination of laboratory capability and standards experience allows Radiometrics to support aerospace manufacturers from early development through formal qualification testing.
Schedule Aerospace or RTCA DO-160 EMC Testing
Contact Radiometrics to discuss RTCA DO-160 testing, aerospace EMC qualification, space-system EMC testing, pre-compliance evaluation, troubleshooting, scheduling or quotation requirements.