-- New 'monolithic' design helps airlines save maintenance costs
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 9, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Goodrich
Corporation (NYSE: GR) has received FAA Supplemental Type Certification (STC)
for a lightweight durable fan cowl design for V2500-A5 engine nacelles.
Goodrich's Aerostructures business unit, through its Alabama Service Center in
Foley, Ala., will provide a one-piece, or monolithic, fan cowl as part of its
Prime Solutions(sm) aftermarket support program.
The monolithic fan cowl, developed in collaboration with Bombardier
Aerospace of Belfast in Northern Ireland, offers a number of advantages over
the existing fan cowl design. It uses a resin transfer infusion process
developed by Bombardier that replaces the fan cowl's traditional honeycomb
interior with a monolithic structure. The resulting one-piece components are
more durable and longer lasting than their predecessors, thus reducing repair
costs. In addition, the new Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) oil servicing
access door will reduce on-wing maintenance time for operators by eliminating
the need to open the fan cowls when the IDG is serviced.
'We're pleased to have received this approval and be able to offer this
product to our airline customers under an FAA STC,' said Bob Gustafson, Vice
President and General Manager of Aftermarket Services for Goodrich's
Aerostructures business unit. 'Our customers already recognize the
significant benefits of this new product, including the reduction in
maintenance costs. We are currently ramping up production to meet customer
demand.'
The V2500-A5 engines, manufactured by International Aero Engines, are
widely used on the Airbus A320 Family of aircraft, including the A319 and
A321. In all, there are about 2,500 of the V2500-A5 engines in service
worldwide.
Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global supplier
of systems and services to the aerospace and defense industry. Serving a
global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service
facilities, Goodrich is one of the largest aerospace companies in the world.
For more information visit http://www.goodrich.com.
Goodrich Corporation operates through its divisions and as a parent
company for its subsidiaries, one or more of which may be referred to as
'Goodrich Corporation' in this press release.
SOURCE Goodrich Corporation; GR - Nacelles and Interior Systems
