Page 30 - ConnectorSupplier.com 2019 Mil/Aero eBook

Choosing the Right Connectors for Modern Aviation Applications
David Koller, Internal Applications Engineer at PEI-Genesis
The commercial aviation industry is dynamic, always changing and adapting to market forces, and has been growing steadily for the last several years. According to Boeing’s most recent “Commercial Market Outlook,” year- over-year traffic growth has averaged 6.5% over the past five years, and in 2016 the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated that the number of aircraft passengers will double over the next 20 years, growing to 7.2 billion in 2035. The key drivers behind this steadily increasing demand are economic and income growth, which have led to rising levels of consumer spending on travel and tourism. Keeping up with this rising demand for commercial aircraft and meeting customers’ expectations for modern air travel has resulted in challenging production levels and the integration of many technologically advanced electronic systems spanning cockpits to seat-backs.
Modern aviation applications including fuel management systems, landing gear, airframes, galley and cabin systems, control panels, and engines all require high-reliability connectivity.
How to Choose the Right Connector
Modern commercial aircraft applications require connectors capable of providing extremely reliable performance in rigorous environments, and those employed in critical flight systems must go one step further, ensuring fail- safe operation in even the most challenging conditions. Whether integrated into cabin and in-flight entertainment systems or critical avionics systems, aircraft connectors must perform flawlessly when subjected to high vibration, widely varying operating temperatures, pressure changes, and shock, and must also be resistant to a vast array of damaging contaminants, ranging from frost to oils and chemicals.
There are many different electronics systems in today’s commercial aircraft, and each has its own set of requirements and challenges.
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