American Airlines has announced a partnership with Safran Landing Systems to upgrade its Boeing 737NG fleet from steel to carbon brakes in a bid to reduce its environmental footprint.
Lighter than steel brakes, with up to 700 pounds (320kg) of weight savings per aircraft, the upgrade to the Safran Landing Systems carbon brakes configuration is expected to help American meet its sustainability commitments by reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 77 tons per Boeing 737NG aircraft every year.
The Safran Landing Systems brake is said to have superior energy absorption and twice the endurance of the steel configuration, compatible with both Boeing 737NG and Boeing 737 MAX families, Safran believes it provides operators with a significant improvement in operational performance and delivers the lowest operating costs on the market.
Due to its energy absorption and twice the endurance of the steel configuration, the Safran Landing Systems brake, compatible with both Boeing 737NG and Boeing 737 MAX families, is believed to provide a significant improvement in operational performance and lowers operating costs.
According to American Airlines, the partnership reinforces a shared commitment of playing a leadership role in helping decarbonize the broader airline industry and meeting the aviation industry goal of net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Kevin Brickner, American Airlines Senior Vice President of Technical Operations, said: “Ensuring our existing fleet — the youngest among U.S. network carriers — is operating as efficiently as possible is critical to reaching our climate goals. Reducing our flight weight with a superior braking product is a win-win for our operation.”
Cédric Goubet, Safran Landing Systems CEO, added: “We are honored to begin this partnership on wheels and brakes with American Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the world. This partnership recognizes the excellence of our equipment, the high level of expertise of our teams as well as our Research & Technology efforts to reduce the impact of air transport on the environment. This collaboration is a great opportunity for Safran Landing Systems to increase its presence in the U.S. market and expand the growing activity of its Walton site.”
Safran Landing Systems will manufacture the wheels and carbon brakes and perform the carbon heat sinks exchanges in its state-of-the art production plant in Walton, Kentucky. American’s Technical Operations team will complete the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul services at its base maintenance facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
