Aircraft test conditions for electromagnetic compatibility assessment

Before electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing of whole aircraft can be carried out, all of the requirements must be clearly defined. In particular, the objectives must be set out and the flight critical systems determined to allow the EMC assessment to be performed in as near representative condition of flight as possible. This will give the confidence when the withstand capability of the aircraft is measured, during exposure to its own on-board radio frequency (RF) environment and to the external RF environment in which it is to operate. This paper discusses those aspects of relating to the aircraft test conditions prior to the EMC assessment. In addition, the use of the accident data recorder (ADR) is discussed as a useful tool in the EMC assessment programme, which can, if required, be used for flight test assessment as well as ground trials, without the need of additional specialist instrumentation