PPG has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for its aftermarket glass-faced acrylic windshields for BEECHJET 400 business jets and their variants. Receiving the STC enables PPG to sell the windshields as an approved design to owners of Beechjet 400 jets and variants who recognize EASA authority.
The windshield is now approved by two of the leading aviation authorities, having received Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 2017.
“We are pleased that we can now offer Beechjet 400 jet operators across Europe these new windshields, which are designed for ease of installation, exceptional resistance to moisture ingress and enhanced optical properties,” said Steve Kight, PPG global director, general aviation transparencies. Beechjet 400 jet owners in North America and Europe are able to purchase replacement parts directly from the manufacturer, saving them time and related costs.”
The PPG explains that their windshields have an outboard ply of chemically strengthened glass with two stretched-acrylic plies, combining the abrasion resistance of glass with the lightweight benefits of acrylic. They feature a PPG AIRCON anti-ice heating system that offers enhanced optics during operation. PPG SURFACE SEAL hydrophobic coating helps shed water for better pilot visibility during wet conditions without the need for wipers.
The windshields also incorporate a weather seal that is used with pre-molded pressure seals on the edge attachment, simplifying installation because there is no need for additional sealant application. The weather seal and a PPG-produced interlayer afford enhanced resistance to moisture ingress that can cause interlayer degradation and hazing.