King Air Operators Install New Grease-Free Wing Flap Rollers Following Transport Canada Approval
King Air operators across the Americas are trialing Marsh Brothers Aviation’s new flap roller bearings following Transport Canada’s (TC) July approval of the polymer bearing technology for commercial use.
Canada’s Rise Air, which operates a fleet of eight King Air aircraft, and Sunwest Aviation, which operates King Air 350/200 aircraft out of Calgary, have each replaced the original greased needle roller bearings and phenolic/steel/Teflon washers on one of their aircraft with Marsh Brothers’ new self-lubricating grease-free polymer bearings.
Colombia’s Aviation Support and Maintenance Company (ASMC) is also operating the King Air Flap Roller Kit on one of its aircraft.
“These trials are extremely important for the light aircraft industry as we look to build confidence around a product developed to address on-going reliability issues with original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM) grease-reliant metal flap rollers. Bearing seizure and inoperable wing flaps with greased bearings are well-known problems amongst the King Air community,” said Juan Rivera, Business Development Manager, Marsh Brothers Aviation.
“After we received TC supplemental approval we wanted to work with a handful of operators and maintenance facilities to get comparative data and operational performance information. We are delighted that Rise Air, Sunwest, and ASMC have agreed to partner with us and participate in these field trials. This shows the industry is keen resolve a serious problem.”
The greased rollers currently in use on the wing flaps do not respond well to the changes in altitude temperature, so the rollers’ reliability and performance can be compromised over time due to a loss of or dried-out lubricating grease.
Rise Air’s Director of Maintenance Chris Samoila, said: “Marsh Brothers’ King Air Flap Roller Kit is a cost-effective replacement solution that adds a layer of maintenance reliability to flap tracks along with reduced service costs and downtime.”
ASMC echoed similar sentiment: “We see huge potential for these rollers,” said Director of Maintenance, Henry Chaparro. “We hope the trials will show how beneficial it will be for our customers to consider replacing their existing flap rollers with Marsh Brothers’ technology. Self-lubricating polymer technology has the potential to improve aviation safety, reduce operational costs, and increase aircraft reliability.”
The three King Air aircraft taking part in the year-long field trials have already flown a combined 100 hours, with the operators reporting back with operational data every 200 hours at a minimum.
“We will receive inspection and performance data on average five times a year, rather than every three years or 3000 hours, which is typically the case with OEM inspection requirements. Having access to this level of operational data is invaluable,” said Nicholas Choo-Son, Director Business Development for Marsh Brothers Aviation.
Choo-Son furthered: “Because we are launching a brand-new product, collaboration with established operators and maintainers is key to successful market introduction. The aerospace industry is a conservative industry and first orders for a new product tend to take time. Through these field trial partnerships, we can now answer the question ‘who else is flying with them?’ We now have companies across the Americas operating our TC certified King Air Flap Rollers.”
Marsh Brothers Aviation said it is close to signing a first order for six sets of the revolutionary new product – the first polymer bearing solution Marsh Brothers Aviation has developed for commercial aircraft.
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