FAA APPROVES MBA’S KING AIR FLAP ROLLER BEARINGS FOR COMMERCIAL USE
Marsh Brothers Aviation’s (MBA) new King Air Flap Roller Bearing kit has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for commercial use on USA-registered King Air aircraft.
FAA approval, which follows Transport Canada (TC) approval in July last year, paves the way for US-based operators and maintenance organizations to replace seizure-prone greased needle flap rollers with a more robust, self-lubricating, grease-free bearing solution.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) greased needle flap rollers are prone to seizing up over time as the grease ages and stiffens. This then causes the flap rollers to slide in the track instead of rolling, leading to abnormal track wear and damage, resulting in unscheduled downtime and substantial repair costs.
“By replacing these needle bearings with an MBA King Air Flap Roller, maintenance providers solve a potentially difficult maintenance issue for their customers,” said Michael Muschta, Marsh Brothers’ Engineering Manager.
Utilizing MBA’s elastomer science know-how and incorporating its proprietary AeroTough® material, the self-lubricating bearing has greater durability than OEM flap roller bearing materials, including Teflon®. South Carolina headquartered Stevens Aerospace, which has worked with MBA in the development of the product, is the latest service provider set to offer the new bearing solution to its customers.
Stevens, one of aviation's most trusted Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MROs) with locations across the US, carried out ground tests on a prototype bearing onboard one its King Air 300 aircraft. These initial trials were pivotal to the further development of the product, as it helped optimize the dimensions of the bearings prior to successful market introduction.
Phil Stearns, Director of Sales and Marketing, Stevens Aerospace, said: “The relationship we have with MBA has been defined by open technical support and cooperation. Ultimately, the relationship benefits our customers as we can now provide a longer-lasting, cost-effective solution to a problem that has plagued King Air operators for many years. MBA’s King Air Flap Roller Bearings contribute to improved aircraft safety, reducing maintenance, downtime, and costs.”
“What operators are finding once they have retrofitted our bearing technology is that they no longer need to buy phenolic or steel thrust washers. As our rollers incorporate a polymer washer as an integral part of the roller, operational and maintenance costs are reduced even further with this simplified installation,” said Marsh Brothers Aviation’s Business Development Manager, Juan Rivera.
“A seized flap roller can cost more than US$20,000 in parts and labor alone if it leads to damage to other components in the flap system; going with polymer bearings avoids several problems,” he said. “FAA approval now allows King Air owners in the US to realize the MBA flap roller’s enhanced reliability and eventual cost savings.”
Having trialed the technology in 2024 Patrick Konarik, Director of Maintenance at CSI Aviation’s Texas facility, confirmed the use of MBA’s pioneering polymer bearings improves aircraft availability. “As the AeroTough® material is self-lubricating, King Air operators have peace of mind that a MBA flap roller bearing is not going to seize up due to a loss of, or degraded grease lubrication, or corrosion.
“The aviation industry’s acceptance of the MBA King Air flap roller bearing demonstrates our commitment to making aircraft safer and more cost effective to operate by way of advanced polymer bearing solutions,” Rivera said. “This is indicative from the growing number of operators applying our technology.”
Companies that have installed MBA’s King Air flap roller kits to date include Texas-based CSI Aviation and Alaska’s Silver Sky. International customers include Rise Air, Sunwest, ASMC, and Computel. Australia’s CJ Aerospace and FixJet have also installed the MBA Flap Roller kit.
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