From Lectromec and the WireFacts.com editorial staff, we would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season and all the best in 2013. 

To keep you coming back, here is a small preview of what we have coming to WireFacts in 2013:

• More tools: We have had such good feedback on the harness derating tool, we have been working on brining a couple more tools to WireFacts.  Check back here for updates and tutorials on these tools.
• More Articles: We will continue to add new content and more articles related to new wire industry related news.  Find the latest articles here.
• Tutorials:  With the new US Air Force handbook on EWIS risk assessment for Service Life Extension Projects (SLEP) coming out in 2013, we will discuss how implementation and use of tools to simplify the overall process. 
• More Specs:  This is what WireFacts was originally built to fill; a central location for wire specs.  Expect to see fiber optics included by mid year. 
• More Tests:  More wires means more tests to validate quality.  You will be able to find them here.

If there is anything else that you would like to see from this site in 2013, we always welcome feedback.

With the average age of the United States Air Force manned aircraft fleet over 30 years old, the challenges keeping those aircraft in the air is growing. This article from the AP has a high level overview on the challenges faced supporting these systems.

When reading the article, keep in mind:

• While the article focuses on the manned aircraft aspect, a large number of unmanned aircraft have been added to the fleet to reduce the cycles on existing aircraft.
• Yes the original design life was much shorter than what they are being used as, but that doesn’t mean that the aircraft are becoming too unreliable to maintain.
• These systems are regularly upgraded with the latest technologies.
• Proper evaluation and maintenance of the systems can extend the aircraft into much longer services life.

Looking toward the future wire and cable needs needs of aerospace systems, Ed McKenna has a good from Avionics Magazine.  McKenna sums up the challenges facing the industry stating, “the industry is caught between the seemingly competing demands to provide smaller, lighter products and greater capacity to meet the power needs of in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems”