The Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) is being presented at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2015) in Geneva with its latest upgrade: the new Split Scimitar Winglet made by FACC. The Upper Austrian aviation supplier has developed and produced this latest winglet generation on behalf of Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), a Seattle-based joint venture between Blended Winglet inventor Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) and Boeing. FACC is also performing the conversion and maintenance work.
The Split Scimitar Winglet is a newly conceived design from Aviation Partners, which has redefined the aerodynamics of the Blended Winglet, tried and tested over many years and likewise manufactured by FACC. The Split Scimitar Winglet has been offered since last year as a retrofit for the Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER airliners. With the approval for BBJs granted recently by America's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), owners of business jets in the Boeing 737 range can now also benefit from the additional boost in performance provided by the new Split Scimitar Winglets.
"Increased performance, cost-effectiveness and environmental protection are important parameters in the further development of aircraft. Boeing Business Jets – fitted with the innovative Split Scimitar Winglets – meet these demands in an exemplary manner," says Walter Stephan, Chairman of FACC AG. "We are proud to be able to contribute our extensive development and production expertise to this revolutionary winglet program in cooperation with Aviation Partners Boeing."
The retrofit to the existing BBJ Blended Winglet will consist of adding a new Scimitar-tipped large Ventral Strake, beefing up the internal winglet structure, and replacing the aluminum winglet tip caps with new aerodynamically shaped “Scimitar” tip caps. For long-range BBJ operations, the SSW will provide a drag reduction, and corresponding range increase, of 2% or more over the current Blended Winglet configuration.
Retrofitting in the global network
Alongside component production, which takes place on a state-of-the-art production line at the Aerostructures plant in Ried, FACC is also responsible for retrofitting the Split Scimitar Winglets and carrying out maintenance activities as required. In doing so, FACC can draw on a global network of company sites and partners. The retrofits for European, Arabian and African aircraft operators take place in Ried, while those for American operators are carried out at the US plant of FACC Solutions Inc., founded last year in Wichita. We also offer support in servicing and maintenance to individual subsidiaries and cooperations with production partners in the Arabian and Asian regions.
Success with winglets
Since its product launch, the Split Scimitar Winglet program has made very successful progress. Since the start of this program in early 2014 orders and options for more than 1,600 retrofits of Split Scimitar Winglets have been received, 500 of which have already been carried out. In the Blended Winglet program, FACC has manufactured more than 5,300 aircraft sets over the last ten years, which are currently being used by over 200 airlines in more than 100 countries. According to latest calculations, Blended Winglets have saved airline and corporate jet operators around the world over 18.5 billion liters (4.9 billion gallons) of kerosene and reduced CO2 emissions as a consequence by more than 52 million tons.
As well as the aforementioned Split Scimitar and Blended Winglets for the Boeing 737NG and BBJ, FACC also produces Blended Winglets for Aviation Partners’ Boeing 757 (retrofit), Falcon 900, Falcon 2000, Falcon 50 and Hawker 800 programs
About FACC
FACC AG is one of the world’s leading companies in the design, development and production of advanced fiber reinforced composite components and systems for the aviation industry. Their range of products extends from structural components for the fuselage and wings to engine components and complete passenger cabins for commercial aircraft, business jets and helicopters. FACC is a supplier to all large aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, Sukhoi, and COMAC, as well as for engine manufacturers and sub-suppliers of manufacturers.
In the business year of 2013/14, FACC achieved a turnover of 547.4 million Euros. The company currently employs 3,100 employees. Further information available under www.facc.com.
