FutureFlight
SAE Close to Completing Guidance on Endurance Tests for Electric Aircraft Engines
Industry standards group SAE International will soon publish guidelines advising developers of new electric propulsion systems how they can adequately test them for durability and integrity.
Safran electric motors
New guidelines from technical standards group SAE International will provide guidance on how to test the safety of new electric propulsion systems being developed for aircraft, such as this new electric motor from Safran. (Photo: Safran)

SAE International, the global industry association focused on establishing engineering standards in the mobility sector, is working on new guidance for companies developing electric propulsion systems for aircraft. The group’s E-40 Committee on Electrified Propulsion aims to publish by year-end its ARP8689 Endurance Tests for Aircraft Electric Engines document on the durability and integrity testing for new electric engines.

The document will set out recommended practices covering test procedures that will ensure that all failure modes are fully addressed. The SAE committee says that having a common approach across the rapidly developing electric aviation sector will fulfill the need to demonstrate the safe operation of electric engines under all operational limits and also to establish the duration of their service lives.