Tucked away in a non-descript building in the Technical Area of OR Tambo Airport, is probably one of the most accurate and highly rated calibration test laboratories in Africa, if not worldwide. South African Airways’ (SAA) Calibration Laboratory was set up in 1981, with the advent of fly-by-wire technology and the ensuing requirement to test and calibrate the myriad test tools required to keep a fleet of aircraft tested and maintained to the stringent levels aviation authorities require.
With one assistant and 3 tech/admin staff, Dewald Vermeulen, Head of Lab Avionics (Test Equipment) runs this 24/7/365 laboratory, with the very impressive accuracy rating of 90 days. The norm for laboratories is an annual accuracy spec. The Lab is kept at a constant temperature of 23°C and a 50% humidity, optimum conditions to run the highly accurate and sensitive equipment that the lab houses. Most have never been and never will be switched off to protect their accuracy.
Fluke’s 5522A and 5720A multi-product calibrators, Fluke’s 8508A Reference Multimeter and Fluke‘s 4950 Multi-Function Transfer Standard, check and calibrate all of the test equipment – some 16 000 units per annum, that are used by the technical staff to maintain and check various electrical systems on the aircraft, such as heating, lighting, air conditioning, avionics, navigation, radar and many more applications.
The Lab also tests pressure, hydraulics, GPS, altitude, temperature, and always to the highest specification, as tolerances/variances for aircraft are understandably very small. Every measurement made here, is traceable back to the Lab.
The Lab is accredited by South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) and NLA’s (National Laboratory Association) MetCert.
For more information on Fluke’s range calibration tools, contact Comtest on 010 595 1821 sales@comtest.co.za
