New Milestone Reached for Aircraft Inerting Systems

In 2017, Parker Aerospace’s Fluid Systems Division (FSD) achieved a significant milestone with its industry-leading fuel tank inerting technology and systems capability. The division now has inerting systems installed on over 11,000 commercial aircraft in service across 15 major aircraft platforms.

Commercial inerting systems

Since entering production on the Boeing 737, 757, 767, and 777 platforms in 2008, Parker’s inerting equipment has gone on to support the retrofit of the Boeing fleet as mandated by the FAA rule that kicked off the commercial aircraft inerting business in earnest. As a follow-on to the Boeing platforms, Parker won the air separation module (ASM) contract for the Airbus fleet of commercial aircraft, the A320, A330, and A340. Later, the A350 XWB was added to the mix, as were aircraft for Bombardier, Sukhoi, and COMAC.  

Parker and its dedicated team have made it possible to reach these milestones over the last 10 years for Parker’s onboard inert gas generation systems (OBIGGS). This milestone also includes greater than 170,000,000 proven flight hours.

A fast-growing pedigree

Parker’s installed commercial inerting systems are expected to grow to over 17,000 aircraft in the next five years, as current production continues and new platforms enter service.     

Chengdu Airlines’ first ARJ21 (photo: COMAC)

COMAC C919 first flight (photo: Chen Cheng)

The future of aerospace fuel tank inerting

Additionally, the division is actively developing the next generation of aircraft inerting technology. While a leader in today’s membrane-based air separation module technology, the division is also pioneering new catalytic fuel tank inerting for aircraft. This version doesn’t require engine bleed air, as the current technology requires, and can expand aircraft fuel tank inerting to additional aircraft markets that don’t currently apply a fuel tank inerting system.

To learn more about Parker Fuel Systems Division products, including fuel and inerting systems, download our brochure.

This blog was contributed by David Brockman, business development manager, Fluid Systems Division of Parker Aerospace.

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