One Airbus supplier has found a novel way of saving weight, by developing a thermoplastic tubing system to replace the traditional metal pipes used to move condensation water away from unheated cargo areas.
Thomas Kupfer, work package manager at PFW Aerospace in Speyer, Germany, reckons that moving from metallic tubing - PFW's long-time speciality - could cut the weight of the A350's section 13 and 14 cargo drainage system by up to 37%.
The first set of the new tubing - made from thermoplastic PEEK (polyetheretherketone) - was delivered just before the end of 2011.
Source: Flight International
