PPG Aerospace awarded cockpit window contract for Eclipse 550 jet

PPG Industries' aerospace transparencies group has been awarded a contract by Eclipse Aerospace to manufacture cockpit windows for the new Eclipse 550 very light jet. Terms also include supplying improved-design windshield spares and side cockpit window spares to Eclipse for the existing Eclipse 500 fleet.

The PPG windshields for both aircraft will be glass-faced acrylic to afford the chemical, abrasion and crazing resistance of glass with the lightweight benefits of acrylic. The windshields will also be heated, meet requirements to resist strike by a 2-pound bird at 200 knots and have an anti-static coating. The side cockpit windows will be acrylic. PPG will design and produce the windshields and side cockpit windows at its Sylmar, Calif., transparencies facility, with the windshield heating system to be designed and manufactured at its Huntsville, Ala., location.

PPG met Eclipse's requirement for lightweight transparencies while improving design of the windshields, according to Arthur Scott, PPG global director for general-aviation aerospace transparencies.

"PPG's glass-faced acrylic windshields will be more durable, have improved aesthetics and optics, and be coated to drain precipitative static charges. These new transparencies capitalize on PPG's core design and manufacturing expertise," Scott said.

PPG will begin cockpit window deliveries to Eclipse in mid-2013 to coincide with the first Eclipse 550 delivery positions.