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ABU DHABI / WAM
Etihad Airways Engineering signed
an agreement with Diehl Aerosystems to jointly design, manufacture and install the first serial produced 3D-printed cabin plastic part on an aircraft for one of its customers.
Additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D-printing, reduces lead time in design, decreases production costs and enables speedier manufacturing. Etihad Airways Engineering and Diehl have collaborated to develop and manufacture an inflight entertainment, IFE, cover plate which will be installed in economy seats on several aircraft of a Middle Eastern airline. The two companies plan to create a range of products based on the experience gained from this pilot project.
Jeff Wilkinson, Etihad Airways Engineering Chief Executive Officer, said, “Etihad Airways Engineering is leveraging its Part 21J Design Organisation approval by the European Aviation Safety Agency, with Diehl contributing as a Part 21G Production Organisation in this pilot project.