Qualified to Fly

ABC has qualified to build some of the most difficult and challenging interconnect assemblies in the industry, and has earned its reputation as a reliable supplier of high-performance, mission-critical cable harnesses one cable at a time. ABC has been manufacturing production quantities of fuel tank cable assemblies since 1984 when it first received qualification to build TIFTACs for the F-16 fighter. Including the dozens of prototypes built throughout 1983 for qualification testing, ABC has manufactured over 35,000 F-16 TIFTAC cable assemblies with zero real-time failures - an incredible 15 year track record of success. The procedures developed by ABC to meet the high quality standards specified by General Dynamics-Fort Worth, the original manufacturer of the F-16, have been applied successfully by the division to similar fuel-cell assemblies for the F-18, the F-22, the V-22 and the F-2 (the Japanese version of the F-16). It goes without saying that qualification to build such mission-critical interconnect harnesses is only achieved after considerable research and development. The fuel cell cable for the F-18, for example, is a unique overmolded, electrical/fiber-optic design which very few manufacturers in the world would even attempt, let alone successfully qualify to the exacting requirements of the customer. Qualification to supply the F-16 TIFTAC assemblies was secured by Glenair's ABC division following extensive prototyping to determine the most effective process for producing the cables. Beginning in 1983, representative samples of the F-16 TIFTAC cables produced by ABC were subjected to qualification testing by National Technical Systems. The qualification procedure for these assemblies included the following performance tests, all of which were passed successfully by the ABC produced cables: Continuity/Circuit resistance Insulation resistance Dielectric withstanding voltage Water immersion Mechanical strength (pull test) Mold adhesion Hardness Strain relief High temperature resistance Low temperature resistance - storage Low temperature resistance - operating Moisture resistance Altitude Vibration Shock Fungus Fluid compatibility (short term) Fluid compatibility (long term) Low temperature flexibility Abrasion Volume resistivity ABC's ability to develop its own unique manufacturing processes to meet the exact needs of the customer is a capability only rarely found in cable and harness assembly plants. Instead of just following previously established procedures and practices, ABC's engineers are well known for their ability to apply innovative solutions to building the most difficult and challenging interconnect harnesses. In the case of the F-16 TIFTAC program, this ability resulted in rapid qualification, the on-time fulfillment of tens of thousands of orders, and an impressive 15 year track record of spotless performance. ABC has used the experience gained in producing the F-16 fuel cell cable to build a wide range of other high-reliability assemblies for use in fuel cell environments, many of which are so unique and demanding that ABC is the sole qualified source. The special processes and materials developed by ABC which insure proper adhesion of molding materials to the interconnect subassemblies, as well as a host of other techniques gained in the course of servicing the F-16 TIFTAC program have made Glenair's ABC division the supplier of choice for these demanding, mission-critical cable assemblies. After 15 years of "Flying with the Falcon," and decades of experience building thousands of other unique interconnect solutions, ABC is more than a match for any interconnect assembly challenge the industry has to offer.

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