PARIS: Goodrich applauds Etihad brake performance

The long-life, 30% beyond the overall fleet average of 2,000h for brake overhauls, represents a “win-win” situation for both the operator and the manufacturer as Etihad has a fixed cost per landing brake maintenance programme with Goodrich, says Jim Wharton, vice-president of commercial wheels and brakes for Goodrich.

The brake maintenance programme is offered on new-generation aircraft and typically covers brake maintenance over a 10-year period.

Wharton says Etihad achieved the superior performance by “adamantly adopting” Goodrich’s brake life improvement programme, which focuses largely on braking techniques used during taxiing as the 777 uses auto-braking during landings. Carbon brakes are sensitive to the number of applications, particularly in cold weather, says Wharton.