Windscreen OEMs Push Performance, Durability, Sustainability Advances

Cockpit windscreens are incorporating new design engineering developments as customers demand greater capabilities and lower ownership costs.
The demand for tighter tolerances, increased aerodynamic performance and lighter weight have been the driving requirements for cockpit windscreens in the past several years, according to Jason Webb, program development director at GKN Aerospace’s transparencies site in Garden Grove, California. “Increased meantime between failure is also key for aircraft operators.”
To achieve those requirements, Webb says the OEM is continuing to improve its manufacturing methods and processes to reduce essential failure modes, such as delamination, electrical failure and premature ply breakage. “External coatings are continually being developed to provide greater and permanent hydrophobicity and abrasion resistance to provide longer-lasting high optical clarity,” he notes.
For example, Webb points out that GKN Aerospace is introducing a permanent hydrophobic and abrasion-resistant glass coating that is in the final development stage, which includes flight testing. “Current hydrophobic coatings do not last long and have to be reapplied by operators,” he says. “A permanent coating would remove that maintenance task and would provide another maintenance benefit in the form of greater abrasion resistance, which will reduce windscreen wiper damage.”
GKN Aerospace has also extended the life of its windscreens through the application of ultraviolet (UV) ray blockers as part of the raw material mix. For instance, GKN Aerospace applies its Acrivue acrylic to all its acrylic windows. “GKN Aerospace has incorporated external and internal coatings and interlayers that reduce UV light transmission on various designs,” Webb says.
Asked whether windscreens are trending away from incorporating glass and toward greater use of high-performance plastics and acrylics, Webb says that will depend on unique flight profiles, customer requirements, airframe curvature and damage resistance.
Under this background, The 8th Annual Aeronautical Materials and Manufacturing Technology International Forum will be held in Xiamen City,Fujian Province in December 28th-29th,2022.The forum is expected to attract over 300 industry leaders.Focusing on new materials,new technologies,green and low-carbon development and other industry hot topics.Concentrating on market demand and discussing the future direction of the industry.Cooperate and work together to contribute to the development of China's aviation industry!
Click here to register your interest