EMC EMI testing lab for Avionics / Aerospace

RTCA/DO-160 applies to equipment in helicopters, general aviation aircrafts and commercial airplanes.  RTCA/DO-160 testing covers mostly everything that might cause an avionics component to malfunction or fail. The EMC test requirements for civil avionics equipment are described in two main standards: RTCA/DO-160 for the USA and EUROCAE/ED-14 for Europe. RTCA/DO-160 is a standard maintained by the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) for testing avionics hardware. EUROCAE/ED-14 is maintained by European Joint Aviation Authority (JAA).

RTCA/DO-160 supersedes DO-138 which has been used since 1958 and RTCA/DO-160 was first published in February 1975. Since then it has undergone many revisions. The latest one is RTCA/DO-160G and is dated December 8, 2010. In total RTCA/DO-160G have 26 sections, where sections 15 to 23, and section 25 covers Electromagnetic Compatibility while the remaining sections cover environmental and electrical safety.

Testing to this standard requires high attention to detail. The Electromagnetic Environment sections of RTCA/DO-160G are also divided into 4 basic types; Conducted Emissions (CE), Conducted Susceptibility (CS), Radiated Emissions (RE) & Radiated Susceptibility (RS). In some cases, testing for RTCA/DO-160, especially the revisions of the standard are contractual depended.

According to a June 22, 2011 advisory circular from the U.S. DOT Federal Aviation Administration, it is strongly advised to test all the latest airborne products in accordance with RTCA/DO-160G. However, if the Technical Standard Order (TSO) does not explicitly outline the environmental qualification, testing can be conducted using a different environmental standard, along with its corresponding conditions and test procedures.

Aerospace Testing Services