As commercial and military airframe OEMs make greater use of composites in primary and secondary structures, they and their customers are becoming increasingly aware of the need for erosion control, an issue for which there is no permanent fix. While minor erosion on a composite component does not present an immediate safety of flight issue, it still mandates vigilance and early intervention, because the longer the repairs are deferred on the part, the more involved and expensive the scope of repairs will become.
Business jet owners, who historically are low-utilization operators, are starting to look at fuel savings technologies thanks to high priced fuel. To address this market, Aviation Partners, separate from its Boeing joint venture, certified STCs for its blended winglets on the Hawker 800 and the in-production Hawker 800XP, respectively, in July and December 2004.
