Hamilton Sundstrand A400M propeller system certified by EASA

Apr 5, 2012 ASDNews Source : Hamilton Sundstrand

The European Aviation Safety Agency granted to Ratier-Figeac, a Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation subsidiary, the FH385/386 propeller system type certificate for the Airbus A400M Military Transport Aircraft on Mar. 22, marking a major milestone in the A400M’s eight-bladed propeller program. Hamilton Sundstrand is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX).

The A400M features a 17.5 ft. diameter propeller system that is all-new, and features eight, all-composite blades.  This advanced design propeller system is the largest all-composite propeller in production.

“Hamilton Sundstrand is pleased to celebrate this important certification milestone with Airbus,” said Tom Saxe, vice president and general manager, Actuation & Propeller Systems, Hamilton Sundstrand. “Both design and manufacturing innovations have been essential to our production of this advanced propeller system.”

Driven by an 11,000-horsepower engine, Hamilton Sundstrand’s FH385/386 handles twice the power of any existing in-service propeller and offers a thrust efficiency peak close to 90 percent at high cruise speeds.  Each wing features a pair of clockwise and counter-clockwise rotating propellers, which enhance overall aircraft stability and control, and further contribute to overall operating efficiency.

In addition to the propeller system, Hamilton Sundstrand and its subsidiaries supply the A400M's Secondary Electrical Power Distribution Center (SEPDC), Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), Ram Air Turbine (RAT) emergency power system, Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer Actuator (THSA), and the Throttle Control Assembly (TCA).