Specifications and Cable Type Identification

Because of the large number of specifications, which exist for aircraft cables, it is impractical to list these in this Leaflet. Significant differences can occur between cables complying with the same basic form of requirements and even with the BSI “G” series of standards, there are problems in attempting to offer guidance on interchangeability between products. The following information has been compiled to assist in the recognition of the original specifications.

British Standards Specifications

Aircraft cable specifications are issued in the Aerospace G Series of British Standards and are referenced in the BSI Year Book. The majority of cables used on British built aircraft now in service will have been produced to such ‘G’ specifications e.g. BS G221 for Minyvin.

Newer Standards are based upon general requirements given in BS G230. A series of ‘Detailed Standards’ numbered sequentially from G232 has now been published and these define cable design requirements and physical characteristics. The CAA grants Accessory Approval to cables which comply with these standards but an additional Manufacturers Detailed Specification, which defines the precise construction, will also be required by the CAA. This may be on a “commercial in confidence” basis.

BS G230 includes a listing of Manufacturers Identification Marks and also a Letter Code for year of manufacture. This information is reproduced for convenience as Appendix B of this Information Leaflet.

UK Military Specifications

Cables produced for the MOD will include aircraft types, which are identified as EL.XXXX or D.E.F.XX-XX Pt XX. Military aircraft produced by a European consortium may have their own cable specifications and a typical example is the Panavia project, which has produced PAN specifications.

US Military Specifications

The designation of US Military Specifications for cable is usually MIL-W-XXX. Each MIL Spec has a number of ‘slash sheets’ and the requirements of such individual sheets can encompass a large range of cables. It is absolutely essential to know the full designation of any MIL Specification cable and to replace like with like. As stated previously, CAA Accessory Approval cannot be granted against MIL Specifications and users should be made aware that the use of such cables may be difficult to justify for other than direct replacement purposes and where the original selection has an approval.

Constructors Specifications

Aircraft constructors may publish specifications and some of the most frequently seen of these are:

• Boeing - BMS XXXX
• Douglas - BXS XXX
• Airbus Industrie - AR XXXX or ASNE XXXX
• BAC (Concorde) - BAS XXXX

It has to be emphasised that these cables are approved in relation to the aircraft on which they are installed by the Constructor, i.e. a cable which is ‘approved’ for use by one Constructor may not necessarily be acceptable to another.

International (including European) Standards

The official body for the standardisation of aircraft equipment (including cable) is the ISO (International Standards Organisation). The BSI contributes to the work of the ISO but it has to be said that few ISO cable standards are employed by industry. Within Europe, the SBAC works in association with other manufacturers in the organisation known as AECMA (Association Europeanne Des Constructeurs De Material Aerospatialle). AECMA seeks to promote their own standards and they publish European ‘Normes’ as EN specifications. These have not yet been widely adopted, at least within the UK, but preliminary specifications may be published and these are known as prEN Standards. ISO and EN Standards may be recognised for installation Approval purposes except that it is not usually within the boundaries of the CAA to grant product approval against a specification not controlled by BSI or a recognised (Approved) organisation.

Cable Manufacturers Specifications

The CAA will accept specifications from Approved Organisations and will grant approval against such specifications. The organisation controlling the specification has to be a Primary Company (BCAR Section A A8-1).