Overview
IEC TR 62396-6:2017 - Process management for avionics - Atmospheric radiation effects - Part 6: Extreme space weather (ESW) - Potential impact on the avionics environment and electronics - is a technical report from IEC TC 107 that explains how rare, high‑impact solar events can change the atmospheric radiation environment. The report summarizes mechanisms that produce ESW (e.g., solar energetic particles and coronal mass ejections), reviews historical and inferred extreme events (for example the February 1956 GLE, the 1859 Carrington event and the AD774–775 signature), and discusses projected radiation environments for avionics based on past records.
Key topics and requirements
- Purpose: Informational - improves understanding of ESW for avionics design, testing and operations (this TR does not prescribe specific mitigations).
- Definitions & scope: Terms such as ESW, GLE (ground level enhancement), SEP (solar energetic particles), CME (coronal mass ejection) and SEE (single event effects) are defined and contextualized for avionics.
- Historical examples & spectra: Presents proton and neutron spectra examples (e.g., Feb 1956 and Oct 1989 GLEs) and shows how ESW can increase radiation fluxes - the report notes recorded rises of more than two orders of magnitude for aircraft environments during some GLEs.
- ESW characterization: Proposes ways to define ESW environments, including level descriptions (e.g., an event comparable to February 1956 and a larger ~1-in-1,000‑year level) and discusses limits of observational records.
- Testing & monitoring considerations: Discusses acceleration factors for ground testing, the role of real‑time atmospheric and in‑flight radiation monitoring, and the implications for flight‑deck and support infrastructure.
- Operational impact: Considers ESW effects on systems related to flight operations (navigation, communications, ATC infrastructure) and highlights forecasting uncertainties.
- Normative links: References IEC 62396‑1 (accommodation of atmospheric radiation effects via single event effects) as relevant background.
Applications - who uses this standard
- Avionics engineers and system architects assessing radiation risk to electronics and flight‑critical systems
- Test engineers designing accelerated ground test spectra and radiation test plans
- Airline operational planners and safety managers developing contingency and monitoring strategies
- Certification authorities, regulators and policy makers evaluating extreme‑event risk
- Suppliers of radiation monitoring equipment and in‑flight dosimetry solutions
- Researchers and modelers of atmospheric radiation and space weather impacts
Related standards and notes
- IEC 62396‑1:2016 - referenced for single event effects accommodation and process management for avionics
- The TR is informational and does not prescribe mitigations; it emphasizes understanding, modeling, monitoring and testing approaches.
- It excludes man‑made perturbations such as high‑altitude nuclear detonations.
Keywords: IEC TR 62396-6:2017, extreme space weather, avionics, atmospheric radiation, GLE, solar energetic particles, coronal mass ejection, single event effects, radiation monitoring, avionics testing.