Airbus and EADS-CASA have selected Goodrich Corporation to provide the air data system for the A400M military transport aircraft.  The system, which uses Goodrich SmartProbe™ technology, will provide all the primary and standby air data information required by the aircraft.  The award is the most recent Airbus program to select the SmartProbe™ system and the first European military program to make use of the technology.

“The award shows the adoption of SmartProbe™ technology by Airbus for their new platforms,” said Jan Mathiesen, Vice President, Goodrich Sensor Systems. “It further supports the industry’s recognition of our SmartProbe™ architecture which not only helps to reduce manufacturing costs, but can also significantly reduce operator maintenance costs.  The A380 was the first Airbus program to use the SmartProbe™ technology,” Mathiesen added.

The SmartProbe air data architecture offers several benefits over traditional air data systems.  By integrating multi-function sensing probes, pressure sensors and processing capability, the total number of discrete sensor installations is reduced, reliability is significantly improved and overall weight and drag are lowered.

This is the second award for Goodrich technology on board the A400M.  In October 2005 Airbus selected Goodrich to supply the flap actuation package for the aircraft and Aerolec (Goodrich's joint venture with Thales), to supply EADS-CASA with the main and auxiliary power unit electric generators for the aircraft's electrical power generation system. The flap actuation package consists of actuators and the associated transmission and gearboxes. The electrical power generation system includes Goodrich's variable frequency generators and control units.

Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to aerospace, defense and homeland security markets.  With one of the most strategically diversified portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities.