Training key to electrical systems maintenance

Aging wiring has been identified as a national concern. This paper identifies why wiring installed on legacy aircraft has taken center stage and suggests a planned maintenance approach to enhance wiring safety, improve electronic system performance and reliability. The industry must be encouraged into an awareness of the criticality of electronic systems health. The industry must also become cognizant of the technical and operational issues that govern electronic systems reliability. Several alternatives for improving avionics systems performance are discussed. With proper training and the common usage of advanced diagnostic/prognostic/verification NDT tooling and repair procedures many of the wiring problems will become non-issues. As the technology issues are understood, so too will the fire and wire event safety issues. Testing for systems performance, systems trends, and systems useful life must be understood and incorporated into avionics systems diagnostics and prognostics processes.