Sep 15 2007
PPG Industries’ aerospace transparencies business has announced plans to expand its aircraft cockpit window overhaul and repair capabilities with a new operation in Suzhou, China, to meet growing demand.
The operation will be located within PPG’s application support center and enable aircraft operators in China to have framed cockpit window assemblies overhauled and repaired by a single source for faster, more efficient turnaround, according to Mark Cancilla, global director for commercial transparencies.
“Since establishing our first facility for overhaul and repair of framed cockpit window assemblies in 2006 in Huntsville, Ala., airlines have embraced the concept,” Cancilla said. “China is the world’s fastest growing aviation market. We want to be able to meet the need by airlines operating here for cost efficiencies, time savings and convenience of single-source supply and service from a regional facility.”
Cancilla said PPG will begin operation after receipt of approval by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. It has also applied for certification by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Initially, PPG will overhaul and repair the number-two sliding cockpit windows for Boeing 707/727/737 classic airplanes as well as Boeing 737NG and 757, 767 and 777 airplanes. Window assemblies will be overhauled according to Boeing component maintenance manuals or customer engineering orders, Cancilla noted.
Work will be performed in-house in accordance with U.S. and Chinese airworthiness authorities’ guidelines and regulations. “We want to have the most skilled and trained technical personnel to ensure the highest quality of service,” Cancilla said.
Having the operation within PPG’s application support center facilitated its establishment and will provide a central customer service point for aerospace customers in the region, Cancilla said.
Visitors to the Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress can see a PPG-overhauled Boeing 737 number-two sliding framed glass cockpit window at the PPG Aerospace exhibit, booth 9F19.
PPG Aerospace is the aerospace products and services business of PPG Industries. PPG Aerospace – Transparencies is the world’s largest supplier of aircraft windshields, windows and canopies. PPG Aerospace – PRC-DeSoto is the leading global producer of aerospace sealants, coatings, and packaging and application systems.