SAE AS6506A

This document defines performance standards which fiber optic cable splices must meet to be accepted for use in aerospace platforms and environments. Aerospace fiber optic cables frequently need to be spliced, both for original installation and for repair. Standards exist for mechanical splices in fiber cables, but none has yet been created for fusion spliced cables. Fusion splices can offer superior performance in insertion loss, return loss, and mechanical and environmental stability, suitable for long-term/permanent installation in aircraft. The industry needs agreed-upon performance standards for fiber optic cable fusion splices in aerospace service. This revision corrects an error in paragraphs 4.5.3 and 4.5.5. The original language of 4.5.5 failed to specify that it was intended to apply to the cumulative changes in insertion loss over all the tests in any one test group. Paragraph 4.5.3 applies to the change in insertion loss in any one test. Obviously the requirement of 4.5.3 should be smaller than that of 4.5.5: 0.05 dB versus 0.10 dB, but the numbers were reversed. This revision corrects the error. AS6506A has been reaffirmed to comply with the SAE Five-Year Review policy.