Linglong Tire recently answered questions from investors via the interactive platform of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The answers reveal details related to developments at the company’s Serbian factory and its Chinese aircraft tyre production plant.
With construction of main buildings now complete, China’s first research and development facility for aircraft tyres is expected to open early next month. Guangzhou Development District Management Committee reports that the first scientific researchers are now moving into the Aviation Tire Exhibition Center, an integral part of the Aviation Tire Science Center, and are preparing to start work.
Bridgestone Corporation has announced plans to consolidate its aircraft tyre retreading operations in Asia. At the end of June 2023, it will close the Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Company (Asia), Ltd. operation in Hong Kong and transfer production to its Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. facility in Chonburi, Thailand. The closure of the plant in Hong Kong will affect 102 employees.
The USA has classified natural rubber as a strategic raw material that serves as a critical ingredient in military, aircraft and truck tyres. The country currently relies on rubber imports for its tyre production but wishes to reduce this dependency, and government and military are thus working with private partners to accelerate commercialisation of natural rubber from dandelions. Goodyear Tire & Rubber will play a key role in achieving this goal.
From its base at Seoul Incheon Airport in South Korea, Air Premia will soon start operating regional flights to Vietnam (Hanoi) and Japan (Tokyo), with plans to fly intercontinental routes in the coming years. By 2024, Air Premia aims to have a fleet of ten Boeing 787-9 aircraft fitted exclusively with Michelin tyres. The Air Premia-operated Boeing 787-9 planes will be equipped with Michelin Air X tyres featuring patented Near Zero Growth (NZG) technology.
Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) has selected Goodyear as unique tyre supplier for the Air France-KLM Group’s fleet of more than 130 Boeing 737NG aircraft. KLM and Transavia will thus equip their 737NG aircraft with Goodyear Flight Leader tyres for the next ten years.
A decade ago, Air France entered into a ten-year tyre supply contract with Michelin. The French airline has now renewed this arrangement, extending its partnership for a further ten years. The Michelin Group will equip the company’s short-, medium- and long-haul aircraft, except for the Boeing 787, with new and retreaded tyres primarily produced at the company’s Saint Doulchard plant in Bourges, France
Chinese manufacturer Qingdao Sentury Tire received approval for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange earlier in the month. The tyre maker is mainly known in the UK for supplying Landsail tyres through wholesaler Grouptyre, as well as being a manufacturing partner of Davanti Tyres. Tyres & Accessories asked Sean Maddocks, Davanti sales director for UK and Ireland, what the IPO would mean for its own relationship and growth plans.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has put new rules designed to ensure “no tyre is below its minimum serviceable inflation pressure during operation.” On 5 March, EASA put the Notice of Proposed Amendment out for consultation, with a view to making a proposal to the commission in the first quarter of 2021.
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Ltd (DATL) is planning to invest 1 trillion rupiah (£54.14 million; 64 million euros; US$70.92 million) in an aircraft tyre retreading factory in Karawang, West Java, Indonesia. According to several local news sources, the retreading factory will be followed by a new aircraft tyre production plant as well.
Tyre sensor developer Tyrata reports that it has demonstrated that its patented IntelliTread Internal Tread Sensor (ITS) measures aircraft tyre tread depth in a laboratory setting. Next, Tyrata plans to carry out additional durability and in-tyre sensor field tests.
Following a rigorous battery of tests, Embraer has approved a new version of the Michelin Air X radial as original equipment for its Embraer E170. The Michelin Air X M19602 is thus now available for the Embraer E170 main gear.
A first for Michelin – the tyre maker reports that, along with Safran Landing Systems, it conducted a test flight of a connected aircraft tyre. Testing of the PresSense tyre took place at the Istres air base in southern France on 13 June, using a Dassault Aviation Falcon 2000S.
Cars in the sky remain pie in the sky, but should the flying car one day become reality, Goodyear will be ready. After showing earthbound motorists its concept for “autonomous, flying cars of the future” at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the tyre maker is presenting it to an entirely different crowd at this week’s Paris Air Show. The Goodyear AERO takes pride of place alongside conventional products such as the Goodyear Flight Radial.
