Avionics News October 2016 - 19

degrees. Even when it's freezing outside.
And a metal hangar, not insulated, acts like an oven for the
aircraft stored there and, in turn, the equipment installed in the
aircraft. Leaving on a fan to circulate the air inside the hangar
serves more to make the space like a convection oven than to
cool the heated air.
The solutions: avionics cooling fans for behind the panel
and some form of air circulation that draws in outside air during the hotter seasons.
Many options exist to add cooling-air flow behind the
panel, and their installation should be accomplished with traps
and drains to preclude rain or other moisture forms from entering the avionics.
And for the hangar, if not air conditioning at least a ceilingmounted exhaust fan to preclude the heat buildup of a closed
hangar soaking up the sun's rays and heating everything
inside.
The bottom line: Guard against excess heat but
don't worry much about cold
In general, aircraft pilots and operators need worry little

about their avionics functioning properly in the normal
day-to-day temperatures of winter in most of the country;
similarly, normal hot weather only poses a threat to the
aircraft if allowed to bake unprotected from the sun. Sitting on a hot ramp uncovered, however, can let heat build
behind the panel approaching the upper limits of avionics.
The first line of defense against excess heat can be as
simple and affordable as a cabin cover made of a reflective fabric; with windows covered, a well-fitted cover can
reduce the heating effect of direct sunlight by 20, 30, even
40 degrees compared to sitting uncovered.
For aircraft with tight space behind the panel or a number of heat-producing electronics in the panel, an avionics
cooling fan can help the equipment's own cooling fan by
increasing the circulation of outside air through the space
behind the instrument panel.
Compared to what operators spend on their panels, both
of these options are inexpensive insurance against extreme
temperatures damaging sensitive electronics that pilots depend on to navigate, communicate and monitor the health
of their aircraft engine and systems. q

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avionics news

october

2016

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News October 2016