En Route with Brent Wright, Global Director, Transparencies
May 1, 2016
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- New technologies commercialized that offer greater value.
- New products developed for existing and new aircraft.
- Focus on investment for technology, product development, infrastructure, and customer support.
- Innovative products required to meet customers’ evolving needs.
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The past year has been exciting for PPG’s transparencies business during a time of change for the aerospace industry as a whole. As any participant in the aerospace industry knows, the various industry sectors have posed different opportunities and challenges.
- Lower fuel costs have helped the airlines realize significantly improved profits. At the same time, airframe manufacturers are seeing margin pressures from increased competition driving them to focus on business improvement initiatives and improved cost offerings
- In the business aviation sector, aircraft builds and flight operations have remained significantly below the peak period in 2008, continuing to put downward pressure on revenue and profitability.
- The military sector continues to be impacted by ongoing budget concerns and geopolitical uncertainty.
These dynamics have driven aircraft manufacturers and suppliers to respond with new offerings in products and services and deliver new innovations to strengthen their product and cost competiveness.
In 2015, we responded to these challenges with a combination of internal and external initiatives across all product segments. The results are providing new and differentiating products and technologies that offer greater sources of value for both airframe manufacturers and operators. I have listed below some of these new technologies and products that we delivered to our customers.
Technology Milestones
- PPGs Alteos® interactive windows systems, our electronically dimmable windows, are flying on multiple aircraft models and represent an exciting new aesthetic design option for advanced aircraft interior design
- PPGs Opticor™ advanced transparency material took to the skies as an innovative, alternative material to stretched acrylic for cabin windows. OPTICOR advanced transparency material offers a lighter weight, environmentally durable option to other transparent plastics for cabin windows as well as other aircraft transparencies
- We obtained FAA and EASA approvals for our Intelligent Windows technology. One benefit of this technology is to provide aircraft operators with a warning ahead of a potential failure so that cockpit windows can be replaced on a more controlled and scheduled basis. Longer term, the data collection capabilities of Intelligent Windows will support our ongoing product health management activities.
Product Milestones
- We obtained FAA/EASA approvals for redesigned #1/#2/#3 cockpit windows for the Airbus A320 and for associated repair processes for those windows
- In November 2015, we introduced an FAA-approved, state-of-the-art windshield for the Hawker 800/1000 business jet.
- Our PPG transparencies were onboard the Embraer KC-390 and Mitsubishi MRJ for first flights in 2015 along with the COMAC C919 that was rolled out last year.
Along with the new technologies and products, we continues to invest in product improvements and lean manufacturing operations across many product lines. The investments in these new technologies, products and infrastructure are driven by our ongoing and long term commitment to our customers and the aerospace sector.
As we look forward we are cognizant of continued changes in the aerospace industry, the economy as a whole, and our customers’ evolving needs. We will be proactively engaged in meeting those needs with commitment and conviction.
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