A first for Michelin – the tyre maker reports that, along with Safran Landing Systems, it conducted a test flight of a connected aircraft tyre. Testing of the PresSense tyre took place at the Istres air base in southern France on 13 June, using a Dassault Aviation Falcon 2000S.
Cars in the sky remain pie in the sky, but should the flying car one day become reality, Goodyear will be ready. After showing earthbound motorists its concept for “autonomous, flying cars of the future” at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the tyre maker is presenting it to an entirely different crowd at this week’s Paris Air Show. The Goodyear AERO takes pride of place alongside conventional products such as the Goodyear Flight Radial.
Bahraini national airline Gulf Air has announced its selection of Michelin to equip every aircraft type within its fleet with tyres. Michelin’s supply to Gulf Air includes fitment on its new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Airbus 320neo and Airbus 321neo planes.
Following a rigorous selection process, Michelin Air X radial aircraft tyres have been chosen for All Nippon Airways’ new Airbus A380 fleet.
Bridgestone radial aircraft tyres have gained certification by Boeing for use as main tyres on the 737 MAX 9. This approval builds upon Bridgestone Corporation’s production of radial tyres for the 737 MAX 8.
IndiGo, the largest airline in India in terms of fleet size and passengers carried, has appointed Michelin tyre partner for its entire fleet. Michelin Aircraft Tyre will supply tyres from its Michelin Air range, primarily the Michelin Air X radial, for IndiGo’s Airbus A320 and ATR 72-600 aircraft – a current total of 189 planes.
GKN Wheels recently launched a new high-performance wheel for high-load capacity vehicles, with the new wheel capable of taking tyres with 13 bar pressure. The wheel was developed by GKN Wheels’ engineering team specifically to meet the requirements of one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of aircraft tow tractors, Goldhofer AG. In particular it has been designed for the company’s latest tractors which are capable of moving the new larger generations of aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A380.
Rights to use the Dunlop brand name on tyres and related products are mainly divided up around the world between Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Sumitomo Rubber Industries. In Australia, Goodyear acts as rightsholder to the Dunlop brand, and this makes a recent court decision significant.
Kordsa has spent roughly US$100 million buying Fabric Development Inc (FDI) and Textile Products Inc. (TPI), which provide advanced composite materials to the commercial aviation industry. With these acquisitions Kordsa aims to follow the same path that led to leadership in tyre reinforcement technologies.
Michelin has introduced a new cross-ply aviation tyre for propeller-driven aircraft. Called the Michelin Pilot, the tyre is currently available in Europe, the United States and Canada in two sizes, 15×6.00-6 6/160 and 5.00-5 6/160. Three additional sizes will be available later in 2018, with the sixth size targeted for 2019.
Andrea Schmitz Davis has been named chief executive officer of Bridgestone Aircraft Tire USA (BAU). She replaces Joe Rayna, who retires later this month after 39 years of service to the company.
Michelin Aircraft Tire has been selected as the new original equipment provider for Cirrus Aircraft, the world’s leading manufacturer of piston aircraft and maker of the Vision Jet, the first single-engine personal jet. All planes built by Cirrus Aircraft will now be fitted with Michelin Air tyres, including the recently developed Michelin Air tubeless sizes.
US president Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on US$50 billion worth of Chinese goods, according to various leading news sources. The tariffs affecting over 800 products including aircraft tyres and are due to come into effect on 6 July. The White House said it would consult on tariffs on the other $16 billion of products with a view to applying these later.
A very small percentage of Kumho Tire’s output in recent years was shipped to the Republic of Korea Air Force for its F-16 fighter and T-50 trainer jet, and this military business was a complicating factor in the sale a 45 per cent stake in the tyre maker to China’s Doublestar Tyre. Following the vote to accept Doublestar’s KRW 646.3 billion (£441.9 million) bid, Kumho Tire has requested that South Korea’s government cancel its designation as a defence-related company. This request is now being reviewed.
Linglong Tire is working on a research project to develop radial tyres for large aircraft used in China’s civil aviation industry.
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