Integrating polymer optical fibers in civil aircraft: Enviromental requirements and challenges

This paper discusses the challenges and options in integrating commercial POF link and its passive/active components to the critical as well as non critical data communication in commercial aircraft. The paper focusses particularly on the relevant firm environmental requirements that have to be fulfilled to assure the reliability and safety of the commercial aircraft data communication network. Further, characterisation of POF are analyzed in detail based on MIL STD 1678/TIA 455 series and compliance with RTCA/DO 160E are evaluated in detail.