RTCA/DO-160 Testing | Element U.S. Space & Defense

RTCA/DO-160

RTCA/DO-160 is the RTCA standard that defines environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment.

It is organized into sections, each covering one environment or effect, such as temperature, altitude, vibration, humidity and radio frequency emissions. Equipment specifications call out the sections and categories that apply.

Aerospace Environmental Simulation

Center of Excellence

Element U.S. Space & Defense runs environmental testing to RTCA/DO-160 at its Orlando, FL Center of Excellence. Section 21 radio frequency emissions testing runs at the Fullerton, CA E3 & Environmental Center of Excellence.

View Location Related service: Environmental Simulations →

Common Questions

What is RTCA/DO-160 testing?

RTCA/DO-160 testing exposes airborne equipment to the environmental and electromagnetic conditions defined in the standard to show that it performs as required. Element U.S. Space & Defense runs environmental testing to DO-160 at Orlando, FL, and Section 21 radio frequency emissions testing at Fullerton, CA.

Is DO-160 a military standard?

No. RTCA/DO-160 is an aviation industry standard. It is widely used for commercial aircraft equipment and is also cited in some military airborne programs. Element U.S. Space & Defense tests to both DO-160 and military standards such as MIL-STD-810, depending on what a program requires.

What environments does DO-160 cover?

Sections address temperature and altitude, humidity, shock, vibration, explosive atmosphere, waterproofness, fluids, sand and dust, fungus, salt fog, power input, radio frequency susceptibility and emissions, lightning and icing, among others. Your equipment specification selects the sections and categories, which Element U.S. Space & Defense uses to scope testing.

Where does Section 21 testing run?

Section 21 covers emission of radio frequency energy. Element U.S. Space & Defense runs it at the Fullerton, CA E3 & Environmental Center of Excellence, where the chambers support EMI/EMC work to aerospace and military specifications. It is separate from the environmental sections handled at Orlando, FL.

What are DO-160 equipment categories?

Categories define the severity of a test section based on where the equipment is installed on the aircraft and the conditions it will see there. The equipment specification assigns them, section by section. Provide those categories to Element U.S. Space & Defense so the team can set the right test levels.

How is DO-160 different from MIL-STD-810?

RTCA/DO-160 is written for airborne equipment and uses defined sections and categories. MIL-STD-810 is a Department of Defense method standard that is tailored to a program's service environments. Both cover similar environments but differ in procedures and levels. Element U.S. Space & Defense lists both among its Orlando, FL capabilities.

Does DO-160 testing cover lightning?

Yes. Section 22 covers lightning induced transient susceptibility, and Section 23 covers direct lightning effects. Element U.S. Space & Defense lists indirect lightning testing at both Fullerton, CA and Orlando, FL, with different maximum levels, so share your required waveforms and levels when you request a test.

Which revision of DO-160 should I test to?

The revision named in your equipment specification or certification basis governs. Confirm it with your program or certification authority. Include that revision with your request to Element U.S. Space & Defense so the team can scope the correct sections, categories and test procedures for your hardware.

What should I send when requesting a DO-160 quote?

Send the equipment specification, revision, sections and categories, equipment dimensions, weight, power requirements and monitoring needs. Giving Element U.S. Space & Defense this information early helps the team plan the test sequence and identify which sections run at Orlando, FL and which run at Fullerton, CA.

Is DO-160 testing at Orlando accredited?

The Element U.S. Space & Defense facility in Orlando, FL holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from A2LA. An accreditation's scope lists the specific tests it covers, so ask the team to confirm a particular DO-160 section against the current scope. Details are on the Accreditations page.