Says Design Saves On Maintenance Costs

Goodrich Corporation tells ANN it recently 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, AL will provide a one-piece, or monolithic, fan cowl as part of its Prime Solutions 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.

FMI: www.goodrich.com, www.airbus.com