Boeing Reconfirms Painted Gear Surfaces Acceptable

AAR CORP. announced that The Boeing Company has issued a Multi Operator Message ("MOM") to its 707, 747, 757 and 767 customers, dated April 8, 2008, referencing the FAA South Florida FSDO notice (UPN No. 2008-S2008 0110024) issued on March 25, 2008 ("FAA Notice") regarding enamel paint applied by AAR to the inside surfaces of the respective aircraft main landing gear ("MGL") truck beams. The MOM reconfirms the enamel applied by AAR as a top coat to the inner diameter of landing gear truck beams "...to be equivalent to drawing finish requirements and can be considered acceptable subject to all other standard overhaul processes and applicable CMM [Component Maintenance Manual] instructions being followed at the time of the overhaul." Boeing also stated in the MOM that while the preferred finishing method described in the applicable truck beam CMMs for 747, 757 and 767 aircraft does not require an enamel top coat "...the presence of enamel top coat is not detrimental and is equivalent to the design finish and hence type design." for these aircraft models. They further stated that "For all 707 model aircraft, the design finish scheme [described in the 707 CMM] includes both primer and enamel paint in the inner diameter of the truck beam". Accordingly, a top coat of enamel as used by AAR is required on the inner surface of 707 landing gear truck beams. In deference to Boeing's preferred finishing method, AAR Landing Gear Services discontinued applying the enamel top coat to internal truck beam surfaces of 747,757 and 767 landing gear earlier this year. FAA approval of enamel coating on MGL truck beam inner surfaces is available through the issuance of an FAA Form 8100-9 upon customer request to Boeing. The FAA is reviewing the Boeing top coating equivalency determination in the MOM for its effect on the UPN. The Company expects no contingent liability or financial penalties related to the FAA Notice.
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