GKN Aerospace has been contracted to design and manufacture the cockpit windscreen for the Dornier Seawings - Seastar amphibious aircraft, the first composite sea plane of its size and type on the market.

The all-glass windscreen will be designed to maintain optimum clarity in the rigorous maritime environment. It will incorporate a new, sophisticated, multi-element heating capability as well as full lightning and environmental protection - whilst corrosion protection will be increased with the use of advanced, lightweight materials that compliment the aircraft's all-composite hull.

GKN Aerospace will complete design and qualification of the windscreen by December 2016, with flight trials and production commencing in 2017 and full aircraft type certification scheduled for 2018. The windscreen will meet European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) safety requirements and both design and manufacture will take place at the company's Kings Norton, UK, facility.

Gavin Wesson, senior vice president, GKN Aerospace, Special Products Group, commented: “Our transparencies team worked closely with Dornier as they constructed the technical requirements for the windscreen and will now develop and commence delivery of the production windscreen over the coming months. As the market-leading supplier of aircraft transparencies, we offer Dornier a low risk route to a high performance solution for this unique aircraft.”