Abstract: A system and method to breakout and splice into optical circuits in a ribbon cable trunkline extending throughout an aircraft with optical minimal loss. Breakout boxes are positioned at strategic locations along the aircraft's fiber optic trunkline. Within each box, optical fibers in a loose bundle are permanently connected in ribbon cable form to the inner sides of cable connector physically connected to the box, each extending through a wall of the box. The ribbon cable forms are transitioned into the fibers in the bundle, which are longer than the spacing between the cable connectors. When an optical fiber circuit needs to be broken out at the location of a particular box, the proper fiber in the bundle is cut and one or both ends that result are permanently connected to a breakout connector, also positioned through the box, so that the optical circuit appears on the breakout connector outside the box where a mating connector can be used to further route the optical circuit being broken out.

Abstract: An adapter for securement to a terminus at an end of a fiber optic cable and which permits the terminus to be fitted within a connector with an effective environmental seal between the cable and the connector. The adapter is concentrically disposed about the fiber optic cable sheathing and engages the rearward end of the terminus. The adapter has an outer body with a forwardly projecting plug sized to fit within the open rearward end of the terminus. Thus, when the terminus is inserted into the connector, a tight environmental seal is maintained between the fiber optic cable and the connector.