RTCA DO-160 will go to Rev G around December 2010.  No major changes, but Rev G will  have a User Guide that shares tribal knowledge for each of the 26 sections in RTCA DO-160.  Check out the FAA Advisory Circular AC-21-16F at www.faa.gov for information on the different revision levels of RTCA-DO-160.

Did you know? 

• The DO-160 test specification is a STANDARD for demonstrating procedures/conditions for aircraft equipment.  It is not an APPROVAL to install equipment on aircraft.  Approvals fall under FAA.  FAA encourages use of DO-160.  Boeing, Airbus, etc… tend to have their own standards/requirements.
• Section 23 Lightning Direct Effects:  Lightning strikes an aircraft once every 3000 hours in today’s world.
• DO-160 is actually a consensus agreement on procedures and test conditions.  Everyone on the RTCA committee must agree.  No wonder revisions take 3-4 years!

Cascade TEK performs DO-160 testing such as altitude, crash safety, temperature variation, vibration, waterproofness, sand and dust, salt fog, icing and fluids susceptibility.

1. Save Time – Run Tests in Parallel
The test lab is ready to go. The equipment is dedicated to you, in good working order, calibrated and all the test documentation ready. Consider bringing multiple units to run a variety of tests at the same time. For example, start a Temperature Cycle Test on one unit and a Salt-Fog Test on another. This saves time and hassle associated with scheduling and administering the test in house. Outsourcing also a great way to handle overflow or back-logged test requirements. Running your tests at an outside lab will get the job done faster than waiting for the R&D Department to finish using the test chamber.

2. One Stop Shop
Often a testing program will require a wide variety of tests to be done in a certain sequence. A well equipped test lab will manage the logistics and schedule. If a certain test must be sent to another facility, the Test Lab has the resources to handle the coordination and keep the program on schedule.

3. Professional Quality Data
The Formal Test Report, or Test Certification document is the most important part of your test. Working with an outside lab gives you high quality, professional test data to release to your customers. This is also relieves you from time consuming paperwork.

4. Perform Only Accepted & Appropriate Tests – Consultative Expertise
An accredited test lab has a wide scope of industry and testing knowledge. Often test requirements are not well defined or succumb to “that’s the way we’ve always done it”. Reviewing the required tests up front with the Lab Manager can determine if a better or more industry appropriate test profile should be done.

5. Credible Results – Third Party Accreditation
Working with accredited test labs that are consistently audited by 3rd party organizations gives credibility to the test data and insures the lab is qualified to perform each test. For example, Cascade TEK is certified by A2LA, ISTA , and the Department of Defense.

For more information about the tests offered at Cascade TEK, visit our testing page.