Cleveland-based Aero-Instruments says the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the company's 0851HL-AI Pitot Probe as a replacement part on Airbus commercial transports.

The Aero-Instruments' 0851HL-AI Pitot Probe can now be installed on the more than 4,500 Airbus A318, A319, A320, A321, A330 and A340 series airplanes in operation worldwide.

Each Airbus commercial aircraft has three Pitot Probes, which are the primary air speed sensing components on aircraft and are designed with integrated electrical heaters to prevent icing.

"After 18 months of rigorous testing, the FAA's approval of our replacement Pitot Probes for Airbus-manufactured commercial aircraft is a significant milestone for Aero- Instruments," said Ryan S. Mifsud, vice president and general manager. "These precision-engineered parts were tested to very demanding specifications, in accordance with those required by regulatory agencies and aircraft manufacturers. The ability to deliver such a high performance product and superior customer service is a source of pride for our company."

Mifsud added: "Pitot Probes are essential to the safe flight of all aircraft, and we are delighted to play a role in this very important segment of the aerospace market. Our products are flying on tens of thousands of aircraft worldwide because we are able to provide standard or unique Pitot Probes for virtually every aircraft application."

In granting Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for the Aero-Instruments 0851HL-AI Pitot Probe, the FAA concluded that the part meets or exceeds the agreed upon certification plan, which was based on the requirements of TSO C-16A, including the icing requirements outlined in SAE AS393, AS8006, and BS2G.135.

With this new FAA-PMA approval for Airbus-manufactured aircraft, Aero-Instruments is able to supply replacement Pitot and Pitot-Static Probes for after-market installation on the majority of aircraft operated by the world's airlines.

Aero-Instruments is one of only three companies in the world whose Pitot Probes are approved for Airbus commercial aircraft (the others being Thales and Goodrich) and one of only two companies approved for Boeing commercial aircraft. Aero-Instruments received its first FAA certification for replacement parts for Boeing-manufactured commercial planes in 2006.

In addition to offering air data sensors for commercial airliners, Aero-Instruments manufactures Pitot Probes and related devices and systems for the general aviation, rotorcraft, business jet, military aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) markets.

Founded in 1925, the privately held company produces electrically heated Pitot Probes, Pitot-Static Probes and Static Pressure Ports for the aerospace and defense industries.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is drafting an Airworthiness Directive (AD) requring that 200 Airbus A330/A340 aircraft currently outfitted with older Thales Pitot Probes be fitted with at least two Pitot Tubes made by Goodrich, allowing a maximum of one Thales BA type probe to remain fitted on the aircraft.

The older Thales probe of the type AA will have to be replaced with either the newer Thales Pitot Tube or ones made by the rival U.S. aerospace firm, said EASA.

(EASA's announcement came in advance of Aero-Instrument's so presumably Airbus A330/A340 operators can switch out the older Thales-made Pitot Tubes with FAA-approved replacements from either Goodrich or Aero-Instruments.)

EASA's proposed AD is intended as a precautionary measure in the wake of the June 1 loss of an Air France Airbus A330 (Flight 447) flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, killing all 228 aboard. The accident remains under investigation, but air safety investigators found through automated maintenance data transmissions sent from the doomed aircraft that the Thales Pilot Tubes on the ill-fated jetliner had not worked properly as the airliner traveled through a severe storm over the Atlantic Ocean.

EASA said the AD, with further details still being elaborated, is expected to be published soon.. Air France and some other airlines, including several U.S. air carriers, have already voluntarily swapped out the older Thales Pitot Tubes.

Easing the impact of the planned AD is the fact that 800 of the 1,000 A330s and A340 flying today are already operated exclusively with Pitot Tubes made by Goodrich.

The proposed AD, which started out as a recommendation from Airbus, is based on Pitot Probe performance data that EASA has analyzed in recent weeks. EASA spokesman Daniel Hoeltgen is quoting as saying that technical analysis and information received on the performance of the different types of probes indicates that the Goodrich probes are more reliable.

The top pilots union at Air France demanded that older Thales Pitot Tubes be replaced by Goodrich models across the airline's fleet. The union said the Goodrich-made Pitot Tubes have been problem-free. Air France had already replaced the older Thales device with the newer example.

Air France has begun replacing the French-built Pitot Tubes with the US-made models. The first six planes were fitted with the new speed probes made by Goodrich and the rest of the fleet is to be quickly upgraded, said an Air France spokeswoman. "Air France has ordered 90 Goodrich Pitot Tubes to equip all of its A330 and A340 planes," she said.

It is reported that US Airways and Northwest Airlines, now part of Delta Air Lines, the only U.S. operators of A330s, have already upgraded the Thales-built Pitot Tubes on planes. Spokesmen for both U.S. air carrier said they were reviewing the Airbus recommendation in advance of the planned EASA AD and assessing the availability of parts to support the modification.