PPG Industries' (NYSE:PPG) aerospace transparencies group has been awarded a contract by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. (MJET) to design and manufacture the all-glass windshields and side flight-deck windows for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ).

Under the agreement, PPG will supply original-equipment flight-deck windows for the life of the program and support operators with aftermarket parts, according to Mark Cancilla, PPG Aerospace global platform director for transparencies.

"We are excited to play a role in the advanced-technology MRJ and appreciate being able to join with MJET in its launch," Cancilla said. "This program is another demonstration of PPG's continued commitment to the regional jet marketplace and to our ability to meet the important needs of regional jet operators. PPG's design, technology and manufacturing capabilities enable us to provide high-quality, value-added transparencies, while our long history of supporting the aftermarket and our global network of support centers give us the expertise and infrastructure to provide timely operator service on a local basis."

The heated windshields and side flight-deck windows will be among the largest in commercial aviation, Cancilla said, to afford enhanced visibility. Using three plies of Herculite(R) II chemically strengthened glass will enable PPG to design them to be strong yet lightweight. An additional design consideration is the attenuation of high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF), which will be addressed with use of existing coatings technologies. The windshields will be designed to resist impact by a 4-pound bird at 340 knots.

Cancilla said PPG will design and produce the windshields and side flight-deck windows at its Huntsville aircraft transparencies facility. The MRJ, which is a family of 70- to 90-seat next-generation regional jets under development by MJET, is expected to enter service in 2014.