Aeronautic cables

Citation

(2005), "Aeronautic cables", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 77 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2005.12777fad.003

Aeronautic cables

Materials

Aeronautic cables

Keywords: Aircraft, Aircraft components

Nexans, a major company in the cable industry, recently exhibited a comprehensive range of aeronautic cables at the 46th International Aeronautics and Space Exhibition in Paris Le Bourget (France). Nexans covers all aeronautic applications from high temperature cables to data bus cables to low loss coaxial cables for onboard entertainment systems and fire-resistant wiring cables.

Three priorities for aeronautic cables: weight reduction, safety, and multimedia:

1. 1.

   Weight reduction is a priority for today's aircraft manufacturers. Therefore, there is a trend to use smaller components and lighter media such as fibre optic or aluminium. For example, Nexans has developed next-generation aluminium cables for the Airbus A380 airliner. Thirty five percent lighter than copper cables, these aluminium cables are used in the pressurised area of the aircraft to supply low voltage power for systems including lighting and on- board services.

2. 2.

   Safety is another development area for cable manufacturers who provide cables capable of resisting rising temperatures and thermal shocks. Fire-resistant cables can endure temperatures up to 350°C (662°F) for 400 h in the hottest engine areas during take-off and landing. Similarly, fire-detecting cables can operate at over 300°C (572°F) for more than 20,000 h.

3. 3.

   In order to improve passenger comfort, new onboard multimedia technologies have also become a priority for airlines. Nexans has developed a comprehensive range of broadband data bus cables for next-generation aircraft equipped with systems including video on demand, internet connectivity and video games.

Over the years Nexans has acquired expertise, both in North America and Europe, in various technologies such as PTFE or thermoplastic extruded cables, ribbon cables and irradiated cables.

In the field of aeronautic cables, Nexans has manufacturing plants in Draveil (France) and Elm City (US).

Nexans' aeronautic cables are used by nearly all civilian and military aircraft manufacturers (Airbus, Boeing, Dassault, Eurocopter, Lockheed Martin, etc.) as well as engine, harness and avionics manufacturers.

Nexans has supplied wires and cables for the entire space shuttle fleet. More than 90 percent of the wires and cables for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, were manufactured by Nexans, providing the spacecrafts with power, control and signal functionalities.

As specialists in spatial cables, Nexans has produced electrical wires and cables for scientific mission satellites (Spot5, Jason, IASI, Mars Express), and telecommunications satellites (Globalstar, Express A and A1R, Hispasat, New Bird, Stellat and GE2i).

Nexans, via its Belgium subsidiary also specialises in harnesses, presenting a broad range of aeronautic and space applications ranging from aircraft and satellite harnesses to missile ones.

Nexans' priorities for aerospace harnesses are flexibility and reliability. Flexibility is a customer goal and part of the company mission. Therefore, close co-operation with customers, and advanced CAD facilities, mean the ability to introduce last-minute modifications on everything from a tailor-made interconnection to series runs, and include installation and maintenance.

Reliability is demonstrated by continuously emphasising new designs, materials and technologies to increase the number of connections in a reduced space while improving performance and service life.

Over the years, Nexans, via its Belgium subsidiary, has demonstrated its expertise in this field, both in North America and Europe. Nexans offers its services to military aircraft manufacturers (Lockheed Martin, Agusta) as well as other defense industries (Thales, MBDA, Raytheon).

Nexans has supplied and integrated wiring harnesses for scientific mission satellites (Spot5, Jason, IASI, Mars Express, Venus Express) and telecommunication satellites (Globalstar, Express A and A1R, New Bird and GE2i).

For further information contact: Nexans; Tel:+33 (0)1 56 69 84 12.