Actuators for Bombardier
To meet Bombardier forecast volumes the company will need to produce around 30 aircraft per month
St Albans-based Premier Deep Hole Drilling, an AS9100 tier two supplier to the aerospace industry, has won a new contract to supply actuators for the Bombardier CSeries regional aircraft programme.
“We have invested a vast amount of time and committed to a substantial level of capital investment for equipment to support programmes such as the CSeries,” says managing director Stuart Grant. “It is good to see our efforts recognised by major suppliers in the industry.”
The new Bombardier CSeries aircraft contain features similar to those found in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 aircraft, including higher usage of composite materials, a lower cabin altitude and larger windows.
The CSeries aircraft contain 70% advanced materials comprising 46%composite materials and 24% aluminium-lithium, which provides a 15% lower seat-mile cost and a significant reduction in maintenance costs.
Mr Grant adds: “Bombardier forecasts that over 60% of today’s 100- to 149-seat aircraft fleet will be retired by 2030. New generation aircraft such as the CSeries specifically designed for this segment will have superior economics, comfort, lightweight design and built-in operational flexibility. According to the company, 7,000 new aircraft will be delivered over the next 20 years, and the total fleet will grow from 5,200 to 9,200 units - an increase of 35%.”
To meet Bombardier forecast volumes the company will need to produce around 30 aircraft per month, with the CSeries currently projected to enter service in 2013. The advanced testing flight is expected in 2012.
The CSeries programme has several major suppliers including, Shenyang Aircraft (centre fuselage), Alenia Aeronautica (horizontal and vertical stabilisers), Fokker Elmo (wiring and interconnection systems), Parker Hannifin (fuel and hydraulics systems), Goodrich (flap and slat actuation systems, as well as engine nacelles), and Rockwell Collins (avionics).
With 35 staff Premier Deep Hole Drilling operates an aerospace standard OTIF (On Time, In Full) system, which allows customers to monitor delivery performance. Stuart Grant explains: “Working with our aerospace customers generates a number of benefits for everyone we supply. These include much more reliable and robust processes, scrap rates reduced by at least 90% and delivery rates improved to better that 97% OTIF.”
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