For airlines and business jet operators, there has long been the argument that radials are the aircraft tire of the future, given their significant advantages over bias types. Southwest Airlines’ Richard Giacomello reports that the carrier has seen about a 30% increase in overall tire life with radials over bias tires. The basis of that comparison is data collected since 2001 on the radial tires used on Southwest’s Boeing 737-700 and the bias types on its 737-300 and -500 aircraft.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is reporting successful trials with an innovative ozone-based aircraft water system sanitization unit, according to Cory Howe, an aircraft systems engineer in the carrier’s maintenance and engineering department. “The EPA has issued some recent rulings which prompted us to look into new technologies that can remove potential hazards and allow for aircraft potable water system quality verification on our entire 737 fleet,” he explains.

Engine OEMs and the airframe industry are once again giving open rotor architecture a serious look. Essentially an unducted fan, the technology promises the ultimate in high bypass with huge savings in fuel and emissions. At CFM International, LEAP is, in fact, focusing some of its resources on open rotor engine development, according to LEAP Program Director Ron Klapproth.