Story ID: 651Goodrich.doc
Goodrich Lands New Brake Deals
By: Thierry Dubois
Caption: 
Word Count: 376
Goodrich has been awarded a contract extension to continue to maintain and overhaul the wheels and brakes of easyJet’s Airbus A320-family fleet. Meanwhile, the U.S. equipment manufacturer also revealed that it has demonstrated the performance of its carbon brakes on U.S. Air Force’s C-130s, for which retrofits have already started.
  
On easyJet’s fleet of more than 200 A319s and A320s, the 10-year contract extension covers “the provisioning and maintenance, repair and overhaul support of wheels and carbon brakes.” Goodrich’s Hatfield, UK service center will provide the services. The company’s Duracarb material results in a brake that achieves a claimed 2,000 cycles between shop visits.
  
Separately, Goodrich recently completed flight-testing of a new carbon brake (using the same material) for the U.S. Air Force’s fleet of C-130 transport aircraft. Thanks to a significant reduction in brake cooling time, it enables quicker aircraft turnaround.
  
“Successful U.S. Air Force flight-testing demonstrated the current 65-minute mandatory steel brake cooling time after a heavy landing can be reduced to just five minutes when using our new carbon brakes. This now allows the aircraft and flight crew to quickly depart tactical areas after unloading cargo, without having to wait over an hour for the brakes to cool down,” explained Jeff Atkinson, director of military programs at Goodrich’s wheels and brakes business.
  
C-130 retrofit activity started earlier this year. Goodrich claims new C-130 boltless wheels and carbon brakes provide eight times longer brake life than the current performance. In addition, wheel life is said to be six times greater.
  
Goodrich (Outdoor Exhibit 4) is also upgrading its Enterprise Customer Portal (ECP) website with streamlined search feature and easier navigation. Some 1.8 million activities took place through the website last year. Customers use it to search for parts and repair capabilities, as well as to place orders.
  
A joint venture with Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, Goodrich-Messier recently won Airbus’ Gold award for Best Improver. This sanctioned “zero rejects with on-time delivery performance of 97 percent in 2011.” Goodrich-Messier supplies wheels and brakes for the Airbus A330/340. It received the award at the annual Airbus Supply Chain and Quality Improvement Program review day in Toulouse.