3D Printed part for Etihad Airways Engineering
3D Printed part for Etihad Airways Engineering
The global commercial aircraft cabin interiors market is radically changing thanks to 3D printing. The ability to adapt and improve aircraft features without the need for tooling with the bonus of lightweighting means 3D printing is prevalent across the aerospace manufacturing industry.
A great deal of the focus of 3D printing in aerospace is for flight critical metal parts. Projects like GE's LEAP fuel nozzle and the Concept Laser bracket for aircraft OEMs are excellent examples of elaborate design changes. But there is a mundane use for the technology and the airlines themselves are now using plastic 3D printing to produce parts for retrofitting interiors. Etihad Airways is the second largest in the UAE behind Emirates, it's fleet of 123 serves 90 countries, and the company is one of only nine 5-star airlines in Skytrax's prestigious list. Etihad's engineering arm has just signed an agreement with Diehl Aerosystems to jointly design, manufacture and install serial produced 3D printed cabin plastic part.
The collaboration will see Etihad Airways Engineering and Diehl develop and manufacture and inflight entertainment cover plate to be installed in economy seats on several aircraft.
Jeff Wilkinson, Etihad Airways Engineering Chief Executive Officer, said: “Etihad Airways Engineering is leveraging its Part 21J Design Organisation approval by EASA – with Diehl contributing as a Part 21G Production Organisation – in this pilot project.
“Our partnership with Diehl will help us commercialise this technology and make it available to our customers around the world.”
The 3D printed part offers a cost saving of around 20 to 30 percent, with the added benefit of not requiring tooling and avoiding any permanent modification to the seat.
Etihad Airways Engineering is the first airline maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval to design, certify, manufacture and fly 3D-printed aircraft cabin plastic parts.
Diehl Aerosystems has been working in the field of 3D printing technology for several years, building up knowledge and capabilities to supply EASA-certified 3D-printed aircraft parts to the aviation industry. Diehl can act as the design partner and Production Organisation, depending on the customer requirements.
