Efficient and Safe EMC Qualification for DLR Flight Tests

Abstract

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is an essential aspect to be observed for flight tests. There are several means of determining EMC for flight test instrumentation, each with pros and cons. While safety to flight testing is ultimately the goal to be achieved, the application of these means should also be time-efficient and cost-effective. This paper shows EMC procedures and actions developed at DLR to qualify flight test instrumentation. They are based on a structured system analysis, and the objective is to provide a consistent way to determine the electromagnetic compatibility for the whole research fleet of DLR. The catalogue of actions considers analytical considerations, laboratory measurements and different on-board testing methods. By means of examples, the tailored application of methods to individual flight campaigns is discussed. In addition, trends towards new EMC methods are presented.