Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2017-2018 - 68

WIRED FOR THE FUTURE?

example, swinging the landing gear on a retractable,

Continued from page 67

cycling of flap drives and more.
Ahead of starting the process, the shop needs to

the site of the short. Or two exposed wires can arc

acquire the appropriate wire and harnesses, geared to

and possibly weld together, setting the stage for other

the replacement job planned.

problems.
Vibration, chafing between wires and airframe parts,
flexing which can work-harden solid-core conductors,

With the aircraft opened for an annual inspection,
the technicians have a head start on replacing the
wiring and, if so required, other electrical components.

liquid soaked into fabric insulation - all can be the

Wiring for recognition lights, anti-collision lights - both

start of, or end of, a wiring problem.

wingtip and tail - are arguably the simplest aspect.

As one avionics shop owner put it bluntly, "Look at

Dive into the firewall-forward territory under the

the least-accessible part of the airframe, and if you
find wires with cloth insulation, the airplane is past due
for an upgrade to the wires and harnesses. The wires

cowl, components on either side of the firewall, and
wiring behind the panel and things probably get more
complicated.

are, after all, the nervous system of an aircraft, and

But it's in these areas where wiring harnesses

it needs to be healthy to do its job so the rest of the

and electrical components endure the most extreme

electrical components can do theirs."

conditions they face. Every flight involves the firewall
and engine swinging from cold - possibly bone-chilling

Timing a wiring replacement mission

- to blistering heat and back again. Every flight.

When the owner or operator asks and receives an

Heat behind the instrument panel comes from the

assessment of the aircraft's wiring health, when the

electronics and avionics powered by the wiring in the

diagnosis is bad but not fatal, it's time to treat the

electrical system. And it's behind the panel where the

issue with more urgency. It's time to think about a

next best opportunity exists to update aircraft wiring.

conductor transplant by rewiring the bird.

Ditto for airframe cavities prone to collecting

Provided there are no issues so urgent as to

moisture. Water can damage wiring if exposed to

warrant an immediate wiring-upgrade visit to the shop,

freezing temperatures or if allowed to puddle and

when would work best for an owner or operator in

immerse wires and connectors.

terms of downtime, costs and convenience?

Aside from the annual inspection, other

Shop owners overwhelmingly suggest timing the job

opportunities typically come along over time.

with another major maintenance need - at a minimum,

Reupholstering the interior requires removing the

an annual inspection.

interior; repainting usually involves disassembling

"If no critical problems exist, timing the job to

airframe parts.

happen during an annual comes closest to ideal,"

Both involve enough downtime and airframe

explained an avionics technician with experience on

exposure to tackle a wiring upgrade. Another logical

everything from Skyhawks to Global Express business

opportunity - avionics work.

jets. "What makes the timing so excellent is endemic
to the annual process."
That process necessarily includes removal of the

An opportunity in progress: Meeting
the ADS-B mandate

interior - seats and carpeting, at least - the opening

With thousands of operators still facing the

of inspection panels in the floor, in the wings and

avionics-upgrade mandate for Automatic Dependent

fuselage, and a visual inspection of the airframe

Surveillance-Broadcast Out, avionics shops have a

condition, engine inspection, compression check

perfect opportunity to help owners understand the

and other examinations specific to the airframe. For

health of their aircraft's wiring and decide what to do

- 68 -



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2017-2018

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Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2017-2018 - Cover3
Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2017-2018 - Cover4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/pilotsguide/23-24
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