Use of a database in evaluating the UK electromagnetic environment

• Main Authors: Elton, L.D, Squire, R.S
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerospace test facilities and simulation; Applied sciences; Electrical engineering computing; Electromagnetic compatibility; Electromagnetic compatibility and interference; Exact sciences and technology; Information, signal and communications theory; Other DBMS; Telecommunications and information theory
• ISSN: 0537-9989
• DOI: 10.1049/cp:19971109

External to the aircraft is an electromagnetic environment that is potentially very hazardous. This environmental hazard is not so apparent and is very localised geographically. It is generated by the variety of radio transmitting sources that are found around us. The radiated power can affect an aircraft's information and flight control systems and the possibility of electromagnetic compatibility problems is self-evident. Because of the wide variety of aircraft types and the wide range of potential environments they can fly in this is a problem that is impossible to solve in any deterministic way. However two approaches are used to attempt to minimise the hazard. The first is to make aircraft avoid flying in areas where the field generated by a transmitter is higher than the aircraft systems can tolerate. This approach is used with military flying within the UK; it is the basis of the HIRTA scheme used by the RAF. The second solution is to build aircraft with electronic systems resistant to the electromagnetic field strengths that they are likely to encounter in normal operation. This is the philosophy used with civil aircraft. Both of these approaches require testing of aircraft to determine their susceptibility and a knowledge of the electromagnetic environments that they will encounter. A database derived from clearance data is maintained by BAeSEMA for the UK MOD and is used as the basis for the RAF HIRTA (High Intensity Radio Transmission Area) scheme. It is also used for obtaining estimates of the electromagnetic environment in the UK for submission to the European Civil Aviation Electronics Committee.