RUAG is the first company in Europe to install a certain thermal acoustic insulation system on the Dassault Falcon F900DX. The system is based on a STC designed by 3M company Aearo Technologies. The project involved Dassault-authorized service center specialists at two of RUAG’s sites in Switzerland – Lugano-Agno and Geneva.
The customer wanted to optimize the downtime needed for a 2C inspection. In addition to a full cabin refurbishment and a communications system upgrade encompassing GoGo Avance L5 and the replacement of the IFE system, the customer requested a thermal acoustic damping solution that would reduce cabin noise.
“Implementing these solutions during the 2C inspection saved our customer both time and costs,” said Stephan Woodtli, general manager of RUAG’s Lugano-Agno site. “The STC specifies exacting placement of the damping technology materials at various structural points located throughout the aircraft’s fuselage. This is easier and much faster if it is completed during heavy maintenance inspections, when removal of the aircraft’s cabin insulation is required. For our customer, this meant that the one downtime was all that was needed.”
Installation components included fuselage skin damping, floor panel and interior damping, and cabin and door insulation.
“Our system is specifically designed to reduce installation time,” said Dan Renninger, president at Aearo Technologies. “What’s more, the kit to maximize acoustic performance is available for all commercial designations of the Falcon F900, the F2000, as well as Bombardier Global 5000 and Global Express designations.”
The customer confirmed the accurate performance and the quieter cabin achieved with the new insulation several weeks after the aircraft’s return to service. “Ultimately, optimizing an inspection event like this one ensures our customer enjoys increased cabin comfort and at an affordable price as well,” said Woodtli.
