Avionics News March 2014 - 32

STANDARDS OF PARTICIPATION
Continued from page 31

ONE OF THE SECRETS OF ASTM IS THAT

from all interested parties that achieved an effective
standard through consensus. This led to what became the
American Society for Testing and Materials. To better
define the global reach of its more than 12,000 standards,
it became ASTM International in 2001.
ASTM is a behind-the-scenes organization, said Peri,
who is a member of the organization's board of directors.
Most people are unaware that the consensus standards
developed by 143 different technical committees touch
them in all aspects of life. Four of them deal with aviation:
F07 Aerospace and Aircraft; F37 Aircraft (Light Sport);
F38 Unmanned Air Vehicle Systems; and F39 Airplane
Electrical Wiring Systems (Normal and Utility Category).
Referencing the Electrical Wiring Interconnection
System for transport category aircraft that grew out of
the accidents involving TWA Flight 800 and Swissair
111, Peri said ASTM Committee F39 is developing the
new wiring standards for Part 23 aircraft. Ultimately,
the new standards for "the inspection of wiring systems,
the maintenance of wiring systems, and the design
and certification of wiring systems" will replace the
information in FAA Advisory Circular 43.13, which, Peri
said, was originally drafted in the era of the Piper Cub
and hasn't kept up with aviation technology.
Avionics repair stations can deal with ASTM in two
ways. They can buy the standards they need for their
technical libraries, or they can join the organization as
a participating member for $75 a year. Membership is
open to anyone with interest in ASTM's activities, and
the responsibilities of membership are succinct: "Open
participation and the consensus process are core values
and the principle strengths of standards development in
ASTM International. To be successful, the consensus
process depends on the ability of members to work
together with an attitude of collaboration and collegiality.
Each member is expected to participate and contribute in
good faith to the standardization activities undertaken by
the committee(s) to which they belong."
"One of the secrets of ASTM is that membership
includes one volume of standards," Peri said. Of its 80
volumes, which are available on paper, CD and online as
PDFs, avionics shops will want Volume 15.11 Consumer
Products, which includes light sport aircraft, unmanned
aircraft systems and general aviation aircraft, which
includes their wiring systems.
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2014

MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES ONE VOLUME OF
STANDARDS. VOLUME 15.11 INCLUDES
LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT, UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND GENERAL
AVIATION AIRCRAFT, WHICH INCLUDES
THEIR WIRING SYSTEMS.
Established in 2004, Committee F39's work is
ongoing. When completed, according to the committee's
website, the FAA and industry will employ this "portfolio
of international standards ... to ensure safe aircraft
designs for both precertification and the continued
airworthiness of mature products." As a whole, they
will be "a stand-alone reference for the inspection,
maintenance, repair and alteration of electrical wiring
systems in general aviation aircraft."
As a member of ASTM, a repair station can join
the committee and have a say in the development and
approval of these standards. The number of members
depends on the committee's focus, Peri said. F39 now has
50 members who are divided among four subcommittees,
two of them technical, wiring and avionics. But it started
with the smaller number. "Originally, it was created to
address wiring. Two years ago it expanded to include
systems, and we just developed a new standard for angle
of attack for Part 23."
All of the membership information is available online
at www.astm.org, and there is no limit to the number of
committees a member can join. Participating members
also get a discount on the organization's publications
and the electronic Standardization News. ASTM does
most of its work online, where new committee members
undergo orientation on process and training on the use of
the online tools, from WebEx meetings to collaborative
writing and revision programs, needed to participate.
The fundamental steps for developing a new standard,
or revising an existing one, start with writing, Peri said.
This is followed by revision, balloting and maybe some
Continued on page 34
http://www.astm.org
Avionics News March 2014

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