What is RTCA DO-160?
RTCA DO-160, often referred to as simply “DO-160,” is a certification standard set forth by the

A practitioner’s look at DO-160 Section 4 for galley equipment: what it tests, a real documented oven overheat incident, the

DO-160 Section 5 tests how fast equipment can handle temperature change, not just the extremes. Here’s why that distinction causes

DO-160 Section 6 humidity testing runs equipment through repeated heat and moisture cycles. Here’s what the categories require and why

Section 7 covers two different things: everyday operational shocks and crash safety retention. For heavy galley equipment near evacuation paths,

Vibration is one of the most category-dense sections in DO-160. Here’s the real structure, the category-mismatch trap, and why it

Waterproofness is one of the highest-stakes sections for galley equipment, and a current Boeing 787 Airworthiness Directive shows exactly why

Fluids susceptibility may be the single most relevant DO-160 section for galley equipment, and a real Airworthiness Directive on a

Sand and dust testing matters for externally exposed equipment. Here’s what it covers, the real-world erosion it guards against, and

Fungus resistance becomes a genuine consideration for equipment that runs warm and humid in service, which describes a lot of

Salt fog testing is aimed at equipment exposed to corrosive atmospheres. Here’s what the categories require, how real the corrosion

Magnetic effect testing exists to protect compass accuracy. Here’s what it covers and why modern galley equipment with motors and

Voltage spike testing verifies equipment survives transients on its power leads. A well-documented transient event shows what’s at stake, and

As galley equipment gets more electronics-heavy, Section 21 RF emissions testing matters more than it used to. A real Boeing

Lightning doesn’t have to strike equipment directly to affect it. Section 22 covers transients induced into wiring from a strike

Section 23 covers physical lightning strike attachment and damage. The galley insert itself is internal, but galley and lavatory water

Icing testing targets externally mounted and non-temperature-controlled equipment. Here’s what it covers and why it’s usually a non-applicable determination for

ESD testing matters most for equipment people actually touch during normal operation, which describes most modern galley equipment with control

Fire and flammability is arguably the single most consequential DO-160 section for galley equipment, and a real, named AD on