High Intensity Radiated Fields - HIRF - Background and Overview

On August 6, 2007, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published “14 CFR Parts 23, 25, 27 and 29, High-Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF), Protection for Aircraft Electrical and, Electronic Systems; Final Rule” - otherwise known as “The HIRF Rule” - and on September 5, 2007, the new rule became effective. Prior to this rule being issued, HIRF compliance was covered by “Special Conditions” which the FAA has been using as an interim measure, pending publication of the new HIRF Rule.

On July 30, 2007, the FAA issued Advisory Circular (AC) 20-158, on the subject of “THE CERTIFICATION OF AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS FOR OPERATION IN THE HIGH-INTENSITY RADIATED FIELDS (HIRF) ENVIRONMENT” to provide information and guidance on how to show compliance with the HIRF Rule. This new AC replaced to the old FAA Advisory Circular / Joint Airworthiness Authorities Advisory Material Joint, AC/AMJ 20-HIRF, "Certification of Aircraft Electrical / Electronic Systems for Operation in the High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF) Environment (draft)”.

In January 2003, SAE, Inc. published Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) 5583, “Guide to Certification of Aircraft in a High Intensity Radiated Field (HIRF) Environment” to provide detailed information, guidance, and methods related the draft FAA/JAA AC/AMJ 20-HIRF. Now that the new HIRF Rule and associated Advisory Circular, AC 20-158, has been published, SAE ARP 5583, and its equivalent EUROCAE document, ED107, need to be updated.

The SAE AE4 committee approved formation of a Working Group to update ARP 5583 in the Fall of 2007, and the SAE AE4 HIRF / EUROCAE WG-14 Joint Working Group was formed in December 2007. In support of this effort, the Co-Chairmen of the Working Group solicited participation from HIRF experts with a background of design, test, and certification at the aircraft and sub-system level, as well as those from test centers with significant background in sub-system integration and functional test. Environ Laboratories, LLC was one of those invited to participate, and Erik Borgstrom, EMC Operations Manager is now an active member of the Working Group.

A first draft of ED107/ ARP5583, is scheduled to be made available in December 2008, with the final document planned to be approved in March of 2010.