R&D Brief Vol 6. Num. 1 January 12, 2009 Environmental Testing Lab adds capabilities   The Environmental Testing Laboratory of the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University has taken additional steps toward its goal to be a one-stop shop for environmental testing.   NIAR’s Environmental Labs, which opened in April 2008 with the Susceptibility Test Lab, now have the capability to provide testing and certification for the following sections of the RTCA DO-160 handbook: Section 4: Temperature & Altitude Section 5: Temperature Variation Section 6: Humidity Section 7: Operational Shocks and Crash Safety Section 8: Vibration Section 14: Salt Fog Section 15: Magnetic Effect Section 16: Power Input Section 17: Voltage Spike Section 18: Audio Frequency Conducted Susceptibility/ Power Inputs Section 19: Induced Signal Susceptibility Section 20: Radio Frequency Susceptibility Section 21: Emission of Radio Frequency Energy Section 22: Lightning Induced Transient Susceptibility Section 24: Icing Section 25: Electrostatic Discharge The labs will begin to offer testing and certification for the following sections starting early this year: Section 9: Explosive Proofness Section 10: Waterproofness Section 11: Fluids Susceptibility  Section 12: Sand and Dust Section 13: Fungus Resistance Section 26: Fire and Flammability Plans also include a facility to conduct lightning direct effects tests (Section 23) in mid 2010.   DO-160 is a set of guidelines developed by the Radio Technical Commission on Aeronautics. RTCA, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit corporation that develops consensus-based recommendations regarding communications, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) system issues. RTCA functions as a Federal Advisory Committee. Its recommendations are used by the Federal Aviation Administration as the basis for policy, program and regulatory decisions and by the private sector as the basis for development, investment and other business decisions. NIAR is an associate member of the RTCA.   For more information about NIAR’s environmental testing capabilities, contact Wade Davis at (316) 978-6718 or 1-800-NIAR-WSU. The National Institute for Aviation Research is a prestigious state-of-the-art aerospace research and development laboratory with global reach and expertise in research, design, testing, and certification. The Institute’s clientele includes many of the world’s aerospace manufacturers, NASA and the FAA. It is the largest aviation R&D academic institution in America.  The National Institute for Aviation Research is an unincorporated division of Wichita State University.