Testing Aircraft Electrical Bonds Ensures Safety and Reliability, Improves System Performance

Fixed and Rotary-Wing aircraft are complex assemblies consisting of various electrical and mechanical components, which are all connected to form a sound mechanical structure. While mechanical integrity is the primary concern of aircraft manufacturers and maintenance teams, sound electrical bonding is critical to insuring that all control and communications systems operate reliably. A bond is an electrically conductive joint. The bond test determines whether or not an electrical ground has been established between two points. The quality of the electrical connection between two points is sometimes useful as an indicator of the quality of the structural attachment between them. Electrical bonding of aircraft structures is important for many reasons, and should always be checked when building or maintaining an aircraft.