SofemaOnline (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com takes a deeper look.

The Challenge We Face

For sensitive electronic components, for example, microprocessors, A static event as small as 5 volts, can have a fatal outcome for the device.

SofemaOnline offers Electrical Wiring Interconnect System EWIS – Fuel Tank Safety FTS – Online Training with Voice Over (VO)

FTS owes its origins to the analysis following the in-flight break up of Flight TWA 800 in July 1996. The origins of EWIS in fact go back a lot further but did not take on a formal identity until August 1996 when a White House Commission under the directorship of vice president Al Gore was set up.

EWIS & FTS is a Recurrent training which is applicable to many employees within both the Operator Part EASA M environment and MRO EASA Part 145 environment.

www.sofemaonline.com offers a 2 Day Industry Specific EWIS – FTS online Initial and Recurrent training to ensure your employees have a full understanding of issues concerns and best practices to ensure they remain fully compliant with EASA regulatory requirements.

Whilst many organisations have procedures related to Fuel Tank Safety processes, there are considerably less in respect of processes and practices related to Electrical Wiring Interconnect Systems.

What Procedures should we consider?

a) Procedures in respect of Tripped Circuit Breakers and how we will manage the associated trouble shooting activities. To ensure that Flight Crew never reset circuit breakers (or reset circuit breakers) unless the procedure is a direct “in flight” instruction driven by documentation available on board the aircraft for example as an OPS Manual procedure.

To also ensure that ground support personnel carry out trouble shooting before proceeding to reset a circuit breaker as simply resetting without additional maintenance activity may be a pre-cursor to a more serious problem and even subsequently a fire.

Correct Aircraft bonding is of critical importance Inadequate bonding or grounding may lead to poor performance or in the very worst case contribute to the loss of the aircraft.

Poor bonding performance may cause Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), Electrostatic Discharge Damage (ESD) and lead to intermittent defects. Normal operations impose many stresses and environmental conditions on the many kilometers of Electrical Wiring. It is important that periodic inspections are performed to detect any deterioration.

Inspections should look for Abrasions, Integrity of Insulation, and Condition of all terminations and the possibility of terminal corrosion.

All Electrical Grounds must be given special attention to ensure that the bonding resistance has not increased by corrosion or the loosening of the connections.