IEC 62396-1:2016

Overview

IEC 62396-1:2016 - Process management for avionics: Atmospheric radiation effects - Part 1 provides guidance for the accommodation of atmospheric radiation effects via single event effects (SEEs) in avionics electronic equipment. It addresses the radiation environment for aircraft operating up to 60 000 ft (18.3 km), defines how atmospheric particles (notably atmospheric neutrons and secondary protons) affect electronics, and gives a standard methodology for assessing, designing and managing SEE-related risks across avionics systems.

Key Topics

• Radiation environment definition: altitude and latitude dependence of atmospheric neutron and proton fluxes, thermal neutrons within aircraft, and solar/space-weather considerations.
• Single Event Effects (SEEs): classification and behavior of SEU (single event upset), MBU/MCU (multiple bit/cell upset), SET (single event transients), SEL (latch-up), SEFI, SEB/SEGR and hard errors.
• Device and system characterization: SEU cross-sections, trends for memory devices (SRAM/DRAM), energy-dependent behavior and limitations of measurement data.
• Design guidance and mitigation: system-level design disciplines, hardware considerations, redundancy and availability calculations, and development assurance levels for avionics.
• Rate calculation & verification: methods to calculate SEE rates, combining component rates for system-level risk, and checks for compliance.
• Test methods and facilities: guidance on irradiations (neutron/proton beams), laser simulation, in-the-loop testing and review of test facility availability (USA/Canada/Europe).
• Informative annexes: practical calculation methods, thermal neutron assessment, facility reviews and up-to-date SEE cross-section data.

Applications

IEC 62396-1 is intended for practitioners who must manage atmospheric radiation risks in avionics:

• Avionics designers and engineers - to select components, apply mitigation and design robust LRUs (line replaceable units).
• Aerospace equipment manufacturers - to standardize processes for SEE accommodation and supplier control.
• System integrators & safety assessors - to quantify SEE rates and demonstrate availability/functional safety.
• Test laboratories and certification teams - to plan irradiation tests, interpret cross-section data and justify compliance to regulators.

Practical uses include deriving SEE rate predictions, designing redundancy/mitigation strategies, specifying component screening or qualification plans, and preparing evidence for airworthiness reviews.

Related standards

• Other parts of the IEC 62396 series (this edition references proposed future Parts 6, 7 and 8 addressing solar flares, system-level integration of radiation analysis and other particles).
• Applicable avionics process and safety standards and airworthiness guidance used alongside SEE accommodation practices.

Keywords: IEC 62396-1:2016, atmospheric radiation effects, single event effects, avionics SEU, neutron flux, SEE mitigation, avionics design, SEU cross-section, radiation environment.