System Reduces Risk of Fuel Tank Flammability and Helps to Increase Flight Safety

Honeywell has received FAA certification for its Nitrogen Generation System (NGS) for Boeing’s 747 airplanes.

The Honeywell NGS or inerting system is based on technology that reduces the risk of flammability of a fuel tank by injecting nitrogen-enriched air into the aircraft’s fuel tank. The nitrogen displaces oxygen within the fuel tank thereby reducing the risk of a fuel tank fire or explosion.

“With the certification of our Nitrogen Generation System, Honeywell is continuing its long commitment of providing innovative safety products for commercial aviation,” said Tim Mahoney, President, Air Transport & Regional, Honeywell Aerospace. “We have applied our expertise in thermal management and systems integration to provide a solution that can be adapted for new production aircraft or for retrofit onto existing aircraft.”

Using micro fibers, nitrogen enriched air is produced by separating oxygen from conditioned engine bleed air through components supplied by Parker Aerospace.

Honeywell is also in the process of certifying Nitrogen Generation Systems for other Boeing commercial airplanes, and has been selected to provide a similar system for the Navy’s new Multi-Mission-Aircraft. The company is currently proposing an inerting system for a number of other commercial aircraft.

“During flight testing, the world’s first, production based, commercial nitrogen generation system performed flawlessly,” said Eric Wendling, NGS Program Manager. “We now enter our ‘In Service Evaluation’ where we will continue to evaluate our system as we prepare for full scale production starting in mid 2006.”

FMI:  www.honeywell.com