ESDS Damage Can Be Expensive!……How Expensive?
So the short answer is very!
Whilst it is difficult to quantify – (one of the challenges to raising awareness) it is believed and understood that a high proportion of Avionic Components failures are in some way connected to ESDS failure.
For example consider when Avionic parts are removed from your aircraft? are they (“the technicians”) following ESDS Procedures (ESDS Blanking Caps & Bags) often the answer is unfortunately not! (Check with Unserviceable Component Control and your will understand the challenge)
How knowledgeable are technicians regarding ESDS Procedures and how is this knowledge tested by Quality Assurance and the competence management system.
What is the ESD Problem?
A static electric charge can be created whenever two surfaces contact and separate, and at least one of the surfaces has a high resistance to electric current (and is therefore an electrical insulator).
We sometimes feel static electricity which builds up as we walk for example across a nylon carpet at the moment we touch something which permits an electrostatic discharge.
This may be a door knob or indeed another person. This voltage if measured would be any thousands of volts. It is this electric charge which can destroy electronic circuits.
While this sudden Electrostatic Discharge of static electricity does not usually result in any harm to humans, it can for sure deliver significant damage to an electronic circuit which has a particular sensitivity to electrostatic discharge (ESD).
What is the Real ESDS Position?
The real position is that issues connected with Electrostatic Discharge remain a serious threat. It is demonstrated that as electronic devices become every smaller their sensitivity increases with the possibility of damage occurring at voltages as low as 10V.
How to Improve the ESDS Situation?
Managing ESDS in an Aviation Environment is assured by delivering Effective Static Control Procedures. Particularly in the Stores environment during the inspection phase, and during the time components are being transported or installed and removed.
Static control can be achieved by adhering to Static Control principles, circuit and component design being an important element of mitigation.
The most important element of handling electronic components is to make sure that the no difference in potential is allowed to build up. Typically this is achieved by building ESDS work stations and wearing ESDS wrist straps.
Wrist straps must be correctly worn and connected to ground through a safety resistance, In this way the person and the component under work is kept at the same potential.
In this way there is no potential for a discharge as no potential difference exists.
Sofema Aviation Services deliver Electro Static Discharge Sensitive Training ESDS as a stand alone ½ Day Classroom or OnlineTraining.
For further information please visit www.sassofia.com or www.sofemaonline.com or email office@sassofia.com or online@sassofia.com
