Messier-Bugatti has won a contract to supply All Nippon Airlines (ANA) of Japan with the wheels and brakes for its Boeing 777-300ER fleet, it was announced at the show. Test flights of the Boeing 777-300ER - on display in the Paris static park - began in January, with Messier Bugatti's carbon brakes.
ANA is one of the launch airlines for the Boeing programme, with the aircraft due to enter service in September 2004. According to Messier-Bugatti: "The technical and economical performance of the SepCarb III OR oxidation resistant carbon brake was decisive."
Messier-Bugatti has been a major supplier to ANA since early 1991, when the first Airbus A320 to use its components entered service. Today ANA operates 26 A320s and 51 Boeing 767-300s equipped with the firm's wheels and brakes.
The SepCarb and the SepCarb III OR are third generation carbon brakes. A special treatment allows them to be more resistant to oxidation to which brake disks are prone through temperature, humidity or some de-icing products. Messier-Bugatti has its carbon brakes on nearly 1,850 passenger aircraft of 100-plus seats.
Source: Flight Daily News
