Overview
ISO 8278:2016 - Aerospace series - Hydraulic, pressure compensated, variable delivery pumps - General requirements - defines the baseline requirements for pressure‑compensated, variable‑delivery hydraulic pumps intended for use in aircraft hydraulic systems at pressures up to 35 000 kPa (5 000 psi). Published as the second edition (2016), this standard provides general requirements to be applied together with application‑specific detail specifications.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard organizes requirements across design, performance, testing and lifecycle aspects. Major topics include:
- Scope and definitions
- Terms and normative references that establish common language for aerospace hydraulic pumps.
- Functional requirements
- Hydraulic fluid compatibility, rated discharge pressure, maximum full‑flow and transient pressures, pressure pulsations, inlet and case drain pressures.
- Flow characteristics: rated discharge flow, case flow, shaft seal leakage and external leakage.
- Rotational and mechanical limits: rated speed, overspeed, direction of rotation, torque and overall pump efficiency.
- Variable delivery control: adjustment, response time, stability and maximum transient pressures.
- Environmental, temperature and acoustic noise limits, endurance and qualification/airworthiness provisions.
- Detail design and construction
- Dimensionally critical components, seals, lubrication, balance, corrosion protection, materials and castings.
- Marking, ports, mounting and maintainability features.
- Strength and structural requirements
- Proof and ultimate pressure conditions for pump case and ports, pressure impulse (fatigue) and port strength.
- Installation, maintenance and reliability
- Dimensions, mass, orientation, drive coupling, service life limits, storage, maintenance concept and self‑contained failure modes.
- Quality assurance and testing
- Classification of tests, test‑stand requirements and acceptance tests including product examination and test programmes.
Applications
ISO 8278:2016 is used to:
- Specify baseline performance and safety for aircraft hydraulic pumps in design and procurement documents.
- Guide manufacturers in design, material selection, sealing and corrosion protection for aerospace pumps.
- Support qualification, acceptance testing and airworthiness compliance for hydraulic power systems on fixed‑wing and rotary aircraft.
- Provide engineering teams and test laboratories with a structured test and inspection framework.
Who should use this standard
- Aerospace pump manufacturers and suppliers
- Aircraft systems engineers and integrators
- Certification authorities and airworthiness organisations
- MRO, procurement and quality assurance teams
- Test houses performing pump qualification and acceptance
Related standards
ISO 8278:2016 is intended to be used in conjunction with application‑specific detail specifications and other aerospace hydraulic and airworthiness standards that govern system‑level integration, materials and testing.