Conekt lightning facility

Citation

(2006), "Conekt lightning facility", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778cab.013

Conekt lightning facility

Conekt lightning facility

Keywords: Aircraft components, Aerospace industry

TRW's engineering and consultancy business, Conekt, recently announced the expansion of its electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) capabilities with investment of a €360 k high intensity lightning strike test system. Conekt now offers the broadest range of lightning test services in the UK.

The investment comes as Conekt develops its aerospace “Centre of Excellence” for test and validation services. The business already has a well-established offering to the automotive industry and over the last few years has expanded its support of the aerospace market.

Chris Tarling, Business Manager Engineering Services, Conekt, commented: “While we have many years' experience in EMC testing, and testing to aerospace standards in particular, we have recognised the difficulty and expense in commissioning a full suite of lightning tests in the UK. This new equipment has bridged this gap, creating a facility fully capable of cost-effectively meeting DO-160E as well as Airbus and Joint Strike Fighter lightning strike requirements on one site. This project, part of a programme of investments, demonstrates our commitment to become the foremost aerospace validation centre in the UK.”

The new system will enable testing of product lightning induced transient susceptibility (indirect effects) including multiple stroke and multiple burst lightning tests and will complement the state-of-the-art facilities already established.

Conekt's investment programme will include new equipment to deliver an EMC High Intensity Radiated Field (HIRF) capability to 3 kV/m up to 18GHz. This will be a “free-field” capability, as opposed to mode stir or mode tuned, to meet specific customer requirements, notably those of Airbus, Rolls Royce and Boeing.

Colin Gregory, Chief Engineer for Engineering Services, Conekt said: “These recent investments in our validation laboratories will enable us to offer our customers a more complete in-house testing service using state-of- the-art equipment. Our customers are under pressure to shorten time to market for new products and we are in a position to fully support them in this goal.”