News
Eurocopter approves ANAC coating for control surfaces

Eurocopter has approved 23T3, a tough high-tech coating from ANAC (Akzo
Nobel Aerospace Coatings), for use on the landing gear of its helicopters.

The landing gear on any helicopter is subject to heavy abrasion due to the
blast of stones, sand and grit during landing and take-off, so the
protective coatings for this area need to be especially tough and impact
resistant. Looking to update their coating specification for the landing
gear, Eurocopter wanted a topcoat which would meet their demanding
requirements for durability and abrasion resistance while providing a VOC
compliant solution which met their original specification.

 Based on PTFE, a Teflon®’-type substance, 23T3 is a tried and tested
polyurethane aerospace top coat already approved by leading fixed-wing
aircraft manufacturers and has exceptional resistance to abrasion. It is
also resistant to hydraulic fluids, aircraft fuel, engine oil, solvents,
water, cleaning compounds and potential staining. As an additional advantage
the coating is VOC compliant, an increasingly important consideration in
today's environmentally sensitive legislative and political environment.

By approving 23T3, an established product with multiple OEM approvals in the
ANAC global high tech aerospace range, Eurocopter manufacturers, operators,
and maintenance teams now have access to a coating that is not only always
available to the same specification anywhere in the world, but can also be
quickly and easily obtained.

ANAC is part of Akzo Nobel, the world's largest coatings manufacturer, and
has pioneered many of the coatings technologies used in the modern aerospace
industry.  Its customers include manufacturers Boeing, Airbus and
Agusta-Westland as well as the world's leading airlines, aircraft and
helicopter operators.

The Eurocopter group, which has its own plants across Europe, works with
other manufacturers and distributors in 40 countries to produce and market a
full range of civil and military helicopters including the well-known Lynx,
Tiger and NH90.

The group was formed in 1992 when the helicopter divisions of
Aerospatiale-matra (France) and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Germany) combined
and is a subsidiary of EADS (European Aeronautic, Defense and Space
Company). Eurocopter is now the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world.