Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) opened its new test lab for direct effects of lightning/high-current testing for aircraft. The lab’s “Shocker Generator” complies with the high-current test requirements of SAE and RTCA.

It is now available for commercial and government testing and research, and has already hosted industry clients and FAA and NASA research. Testing on the direct effects of lightning is required for many aircraft components and parts, as well as in applications such as unmanned aerial systems, NIAR said.

The lab is at NIAR’s Environmental and Electromagnetic Effects Lab, housed at the former Boeing Aircraft site in Wichita. This facility site is home to a wide range of test labs, including environmental testing; radome development and transmissivity testing; burn testing; specialized environmental and full vehicle testing for high intensity radio frequency (HIRF); indirect effects of lightning; electromagnetic compatibility; and personal electronic device tolerance.