A program was created to apply fiber optic technologies to aircraft to achieve increased electromagnetic interference immunity and reduced weight, increased reliability, and enlarged capability. In the past, issues with installation ease, reliability, performance, and cost of the network, known as the cable plant, have kept photonic technologies from wide application. To meet these issues, the FLASH program has evaluated requirements, delineated environmental and use conditions, designed, and started fabrication of practical, low cost components for aircraft fiber optic cable plants including cables, connectors, splices, backplanes, manufacturing and installation methods, and test and maintenance methods.