Portable test tool for radomes

Citation

(2001), "Portable test tool for radomes", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773fad.009

Portable test tool for radomes

Portable test tool for radomes

Keywords: EADS, Testing

EADS Test & Services reports that it has started to commercialise a portable test tool for radomes. This test system has been developed in partnership with Airbus and with EADS' Research Centre (CCR); it has already been bought by Singapore Airlines, Sabena and the specialised maintenance company Nordam Singapore for testing the radomes of Airbus models A320/A330/A340. Another 30 potential customers have expressed their interest in the system for civil as well as military applications.

The radomes protect the antennas installed in the aircraft nose against adverse weather conditions, but are, over time, subject to deterioration. Their transparency lets microwave signals through but it tends to decay and therefore prevents correct operation of detection radars. This is the cause of many incidents. This is why radioelectrical tests of Kevlar radomes have become mandatory for all Airbus A330/340 models and a new maintenance task has been included in their maintenance planning document.

Up to now there were only fixed and expensive systems (anechoic chambers, "double horn" systems) available for testing radomes; their operating costs and associated logistic costs are very high. This is said to be the reason why many airlines are interested in an easy-to-use radome test tool to check the radomes of their fleets and facilitate their maintenance.

The EADS Test & Services' radome test solution is said to meet these needs: it is described as easy to operate and to enable quick and precise identification of damaged areas. The system is based on a very simple architecture: a hand-held horn simulating a radar wave is connected to a vector voltmeter which transmits measurements, for analysis, to a software in PC environment. A grid is used to indicate the measurement points. The results are displayed in the form of a map which shows damaged areas.

Further details are available from EADS Test & Services. Tel: +33 (0) 1 40 94 47 77; Fax: +33 (0) 1 40 94 47 61.