Following record high temperatures this past summer, I understand Texas auto dealers have been seeing a number of service issues on electronics they haven't seen before. They aren't alone. The Indian Air Force is complaining mightily about service issues on their new Russian Su-30MKI fighter jets. They are experiencing mid-air failures and crashes at an alarming rate, and the engineers back home at Sukhoi have been puzzled. The aircraft have been fine back in the Motherland, but send them to India, and ka-blam!

Then some bright guy, wondering what the differences were between India and Russia hit on an idea: While the Su-30 was designed to operate from unprotected airfields on the Russian steppes, sitting out in the open in temperatures that would freeze the ears off a brass monkey, leaving the export model out in the tropical sun seemed to be creating all kinds of problems. It seems that some of the new electronics used for engine and flight controls are cooking off in the blazing tropical sunshine. India was most unhappy with the "shoddy" workmanship of their new acquisitions, but the problem is more likely environment-related.

If you've ever left your car in the parking lot on a 100° day, you know what it is. As your car's cabin heats to over 140° and more, bad things can start to happen in and among that maze of electronic components tucked away in every available space - that include computers, audio and video players, amps and displays. Now most of our cars are engineered to survive high temperatures, but some of the more sophisticated electronics on new cars are struggling to throw off heat, given the advances in miniaturization and dense packaging particularly after an extended "heat soak". This is particularly important for anyone installing aftermarket electronics - where placement of components will be important to heat dissipation. Get into a superheated car, turn the key, and blam! Smoke test. The hot maintenance tip for anyone with a new car incorporating all of the latest electronics may be to keep it under cover during the heat of the day. Cold, it can take . . . heat may be another matter.

 

The vast temperature differences between the Siberian winter and a tropical India summer, of course, certainly don't help things any. But, even so, in general, Russian electronics leave a lot to be desired. When I was a general-aviation pilot and with the FAA, some years ago, I got a chance to meet Chuck Yeager (I'm sure you know who he is, so I don't have to explain). He said that the Russians often copied Western (particularly U.S.) aircraft-designs, and could, in general, do pretty good airframes, but that the aircraft electronics and avionics were clearly second-rate. Apparantly that (still) hasn't changed.

 

Along with the difference in temperatures there is a marked difference in the humidity levels. Humidity and electonics dont play well together either.

 

Depends on where in India you are talking about. Northwestern India, like most of the Middle East, is a dry desert and has little moisture, but the rest of the country is humid tropical or sub-tropical. Some of the heaviest monsoon-rains on earth fall in the Northeast/Assam region.