Messier-Dowty, now wholly owned by Snecma, is to build Europe's largest landing gear drop test rig.
The MEGA (Machine d'Essais pour Grands Atterrisseurs) is a $3 million project to assemble the rig in Toulouse. Entry into service is scheduled for early 2000. The rig will be sited at the Centre D'Essais Aeronautique de Toulouse.
Initially, the rig will be used for the Airbus A340-500/600 main and central landing gear qualification, but ultimately it is intended that the test facility will become part of the company's drive to be able to develop and test the A3XX large aircraft gear.
Meanwhile, sister company Messier Bugatti is to create a US subsidiary, A-Carb, responsible for production of carbon brakes for Airbus and Boeing aircraft. A 16Ha (40 acre) plant will be completed at Covington, Kentucky, within 18 months and will deliver the first brakes by the end of 1999.
The $30 million project is being mounted to "-take advantage of strong demand for our carbon brakes", says the company. Messier Bugatti recently launched its new Sepcarb III Plus brake, which has been selected by several airlines.
First deliveries will be in spring 1999. The new brakes increase time between overhauls from 1,650 landings to 2,500.
Source: Flight International
