Bizjet Engine MRO Activity One Focus for GKN Aerospace at NBAA 2012

The GKN Aerospace activity on booth C7127 at NBAA, in Orlando, FL, from 30th October to 1st November, 2012, will include its newly acquired business jet engine support activity as well as the companys performance enhancing winglets and aerostructures operations, its engine nacelles, market-leading cockpit and cabin windows and ice protection technology.

GKN Aerospace completed the acquisition of Volvo Aero on 1st October, 2012, creating GKN Aerospace Engine Systems - an operation that takes its place among the leading three aero engine component suppliers globally and includes an established OEM authorised facility. Since 1982, this facility has provided servicing for the complete range of Honeywell TFE731 turbofan engines - which equip aircraft such as the Bombardier Learjet, Dassault Falcon, Raytheon Hawker and Cessna Citation.

Expertise in business jet engine nacelles is represented on the NBAA booth by an inlet for the nacelle system for Honeywell Engines HTF7000 series turbofan engine. As well as manufacturing this multi-application nacelle system, GKN Aerospace undertakes full integration with the aircraft engine, delivering the complete HTF7500E propulsion system, podded into the nacelle, direct to the end customers airframe assembly line.

The companys NBAA display will also feature front windscreens supplied for King Air, Learjet and Cessna aircraft. Recently announced new customers for both cockpit and passenger cabin windows are the Global 7000* and 8000*. These ultra-long range business aircraft will also be equipped with the companys composite winglets and ailerons. A composite winglet, designed and manufactured by GKN Aerospace for another Bombardier aircraft, the CSeries regional jet, will form a centrepiece of the show display.

The extent of the companys expertise in composite design and manufacture is evident in the award, late in 2011, of a production contract for the composite, light-weight, bonded fuselage for the HondaJet advanced light business jet. This activity is supported by on-going development programmes aimed at bringing new composite damage detection and composite repair technologies to the market, to automate and speed the maintenance and repair process.

In metallics design and manufacture, the companys broad base of expertise has recently led to the award (June 11) of a contract to design and produce the metallic wing moveable surfaces for Dassault Aviations next generation business jet platform. A metallic business jet wing spar will be on display at NBAA.

In the drive to extend performance and endurance, effective de-icing is a significant concern. GKN Aerospaces electro thermal de-icing technology will be represented on the NBAA booth with the Boeing 787 wing de-icing slat structure. These are created by applying a Spraymat coating to composite component to form a lightweight, rugged smart structure. An electronic control system is then added, providing highly controllable electro-thermal ice protection.

Mike McCann, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Strategy at GKN Aerospace comments: Across all our areas of expertise we are finding growing application in the business aviation sector, where range, speed and reliability are the dominant drivers. The recent extension to our engine systems activity, with its associated MRO operation, only adds to the breadth and depth of our commitment to this sector.