Aviation News Item: 00652

17th Jun 2009

Source: ubmaviationnews.com

Messier-Dowty International has contracted with UK-based sensor motor and actuator specialist Muirhead Aerospace, a unit of AMETEK Aerospace & Defense, to develop an electromechanical replacement for hydraulic landing gear systems for Airbus aircraft. The electric landing gear (ELGEAR) is expected to reduce weight, lower maintenance costs, and be more environmentally friendly than conventional hydraulic systems. Muirhead is to build two sets of actuators for the A320 ELGEAR along with a test facility that should become available by the end of July 2009, in time to test the first set of actuators in the third quarter of 2009. The project is funded in part by the UK Department of Trade and Industry and involves a consortium of aerospace manufacturers that includes Messier-Dowty, Goodrich Landing Gear Division, and GE Aviation (Smiths Aerospace).

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