RTCA DO-160: Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment is a test standard for the environmental testing of aircraft navigation and communications systems. RTCA DO-160 is produced by the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA). DO-160 was created in 1975 to outline environmental test conditions and methods for avionics electronic hardware for all airborne vessels from helicopters and light aircraft to cargo planes and jumbo jets. The purpose of DO-160 is to replicate environmental conditions in controlled laboratory settings to verify the performance characteristics of aircraft electronics. Once tested with DO-160 test equipment, an airplane should be able to fly through blizzards and withstand lightning strikes while retaining optimal navigation and communications functionality. A plane tested to this standard will also most likely meet commercial aircraft requirements set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other commercial regulatory bodies. RTCA DO-160G is the latest version of the standard. The standard is composed of 26 sections and three appendices.
DO-160D, E, F, G Comparison
DO-160D, E, F, G Comparison
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 10: Waterproofness Testing
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 15: Magnetic Effect
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 16: Power Input
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 17: Voltage Spike
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 18: Audio Frequency Conducted Susceptibility – Power Inputs
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 19: Induced Signal Susceptibility
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 20: Radio Frequency Susceptibility (Conducted/Radiated)
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 21: Emission of Radio Frequency Energy
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 22: Lightning Induced Transient Susceptibility
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 23: Lightning Direct Effects
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 25: Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 5: Temperature Variation Testing
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 6: Humidity Testing
- RTCA/DO-160 Section 8: Vibration Testing