Have you ever seen statements such as, "Meets the strength requirement of MIL-DTL-83420?" We have, and it's those statements that confuse the consumer. Wire rope catalogs and websites are plastered in them. This is a claim we find very harmful, as it is meant to confuse the end user. Most of the time, cable that is being advertised this way is commercial grade aircraft cable that does not meet MIL-DTL-83420. It is a deliberate attempt for a company to mislead the customer into thinking their cable is the "good stuff."

You can protect yourself from this, and here are a few pointers to assist you.

If an aircraft cable truly is a military specification aircraft cable, it has been built by a Qualified Producer (see military specifications Qualified Producers Lists) to meet particular performance requirements. The cable has passed several levels of strength and endurance testing to achieve the military specification designation. You can read much more about the Military Specification Aircraft Cable requirements by reviewing the Specifications Page on our website.

By stating that a cable is made in accordance with particular aspects of the military specification, what is truly being said is that the cable in question only meets those requirements, and stops short of being a military specification aircraft cable because the omitted performance requirements cannot be met. The cable may have the required break strength, but it will not meet the cycle test requirement of the specification.

So the next time you are searching for military specification cable, please ensure you verify that your producer is on the Qualified Producer's List for that specification. If you need the quality standards, performance characteristics, and traceability of true military specification aircraft cable, you need to purchase true Military Specification aircraft cable from a qualified producer. Remember, all aircraft cable is not created equal.   

If you have any questions about Military Specification Aircraft Cable, or anything else, please contact a Loos & Company Product Manager and they will be happy to help you.