Assessment of analytical codes for use in modeling aircraft onboard EMI threats

Determining the response of a wide variety of inservice aircraft types and avionics installations to onboard electromagnetic interference (EMI) is extremely difficult and very costly. In-service revenue bearing aircraft are difficult to access for sufficient periods of time to conduct experiments. Numerical models offer a solution to analyze EMI responses without major impact to in-service aircraft schedules and to reduce costly testing. A variety of software modeling programs are available, each offering different approaches with pro's and con's to assessing unique aircraft installations stimulated by various EMI sources. A number of different modeling methods and readily available codes have been evaluated for suitability to analyze the specific aircraft onboard EMI problems. This paper discusses the problems needing to be addressed, available methods and codes for solving different aircraft related EMI. Problems, recommended methods for modeling specific aircraft EMI response problems, available experimental data from different aircraft types used to validate the models.