Airport electrification and electromagnetic emissions – standards and challenges

Abstract

The growing demand for electrification increases the likelihood of airport system interference
caused by electromagnetic emissions. Studies have shown that equipment, installations, and
vehicles (including trains, cars, and aircraft) may exceed emissions limits established by many
airports. While minor airport system disruptions, such as radio noise squelch, have been present
for years, rising emissions may pose risks to critical radio communication and navigation
systems potentially leading to severe consequences.

This work provides an overview of airport-related electromagnetic emission standards, comparing
product-specific standards with current airport emission regulations. The analysis
evaluates emission limits across various standards, emphasizing measurement methods, such as
distance, bandwidth, and detectors, alongside their underlying principles. The paper outlines
key challenges which may impact airport operations as electrification expands within both the
airport environment and aircraft themselves.

Results highlight the complexity of diverse airport environments, showing that a single standard
across an entire airport is impractical. Some equipment will inevitably produce emissions,
making product (family) standards, which are hierarchically superior to generic ones, a priority.
Notably, road vehicles, high-power equipment and electronic discharge machining products
may emit significantly more than current regulations permit. Furthermore do preliminary
measurements indicate that electrically propelled aircraft, airport installations and ground power
units generate substantial emissions, with high likelihood exceeding defined limits.

Overall, the findings presented indicate that further investigations are relevant for standardisation,
its implementation, and the impact of emissions from various sources on airport operations.