ASTM Int'l Standards Offer Guidance for Airplane Electrical Wiring - ASTM F 2639, ASTM F 2490
March 27, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
ASTM International Committee F39 on Normal and Utility Category Airplane Electrical Wiring Systems approved ASTM F 2639 - Practice for Design, Alteration and Certification of Airplane Electrical Wiring Systems.
The standard was developed by Subcommittee F39.01 on Design, Alteration and Certification.
ASTM F 2639 will be used by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to select and install electrical wiring and equipment for aircraft that comply with U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules as detailed in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)14, parts 23 and 25, according to Michael E. Richardson, principal engineer, avionics and electrical systems group, Cessna Aircraft and chair of Subcommittee F39.01.
"The alternation section of the standard provides guidance for modification of aircraft after initial FAA certification while the certification section provides information and guidance on various certification processes," said Richardson.
Richardson said that some aircraft OEMs are already using this guidance, which was derived and updated from FAA Advisory Circular AC43-13-1B, chapter 11 to form ASTM F 2639.
"Fixed base operators and supplemental type certificate holders will likely use it as well," said Richardson. "Anyone designing, altering or certifying airborne electrical systems can make good use of this guidance."
Interested parties are welcome to join in the standards developing activities of Subcommittee F39.01 particularly those involved in general aviation equipment manufacture.
In addition to ASTM F 2639, the subcommittee also completed ASTM F 2490 - Guide for Aircraft Electrical Load and Power Source Capacity Analysis and is working on standards for wiring inspection and wiring maintenance.
Source: ASTM International.