AVIONICS AND ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY (EMC) CONSIDERATIONS ON A HELICOPTER WITH AN ADVANCED COMPOSITE AIRFRAME

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. has designed and built a large number of conventional all-metal helicopters. The company has designed and tested integrated avionics systems for them, and evaluated the relationships between their airframes and electromagnetic and electrical phenomena, making adjustments where necessary. More recently the company has found itself applying its experience in this area to aircraft such as the ACAP and V-22, which have composite or mostly composite airframes. The composite airframe has a markedly different effect on electromagnetic compatibility and interference. This paper describes the differences and some of the things BHTI has done to take advantage of or compensate for them.