HAECO and US firm in brake tie-up

HONGKONG Aircraft Engineering Co (HAECO) has teamed up with BFGoodrich Aerospace of the United States to form a joint venture aircraft engineering company.

The company will be called BFGoodrich Aerospace Asia-Pacific, and HAECO will hold a 49 per cent stake.

It will offer overhaul facilities for the new carbon disc brakes being fitted to Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

These brakes are lighter and more durable than conventional steel disc brakes and BFGoodrich claims to be a market leader in this field.

A weight saving of up to 800 kg can be achieved on a B747-400, for instance, when steel brakes are replaced with the carbon discs.

The Hongkong facility is scheduled to start operation towards the end of this year.

It will be BFGoodrich's seventh wheel and brake overhaul facility in the world.

The company hopes to offer a 10-day turnaround time for the exchange of complete carbon brake assemblies.