Thierry Dubois is a freelance writer specializing in helicopters, business aviation and aerospace technology. He earned a degree in fluid dynamics from an engineering school in Toulouse, France in the mid-1990s. At an unexpected crossroads, he found his first job in journalism. In 1997, he started working for French aerospace weekly Air &amp; Cosmos in Paris. This lasted until 2000, when he moved south to Lyons. He then became a freelancer, working for various aerospace publications and has been part of the AIN team since late 2000. In addition to writing about business aviation, Thierry shares responsibility for the rotorcraft section. He also is a regular on-site writer for AIN’s daily editions at international airshows such as the Paris, Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore shows, as well as at EBACE in Geneva.
In 2007, he won the Honeywell award for “Best systems or technology submission” at the Aerospace journalist of the year awards. In 2013, he won an Aerospace Media Award for the "Best Safety, Training &amp; Simulation Submission."
In other activities, Thierry moderates international conferences on aviation technology topics. Thierry is married and has three children, who seem to begin enjoying the mountains–as their parents do.

Writer

Thierry Dubois

Goodrich has been awarded a contract extension to continue to maintain and overhaul the wheels and brakes of easyJet’s Airbus A320-family fleet. Meanwhile, the U.S. equipment manufacturer also revealed that it has demonstrated the performance of its carbon brakes on U.S. Air Force’s C-130s, for which retrofits have already started.
On easyJet’s fleet of more than 200 A319s and A320s, the 10-year contract extension covers “the provisioning and maintenance, repair and overhaul support of <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/singapore-air-show/2012-02-10/electric-taxiing-could-be-green-and-economic-option">wheels and carbon brakes</a>.” Goodrich’s Hatfield, UK service center will provide the services. The company’s Duracarb material results in a brake that achieves a claimed 2,000 cycles between shop visits.
Separately, Goodrich recently completed flight-testing of a new carbon brake (using the same material) for the U.S. Air Force’s fleet of C-130 transport aircraft. Thanks to a significant reduction in brake cooling time, it enables quicker aircraft turnaround.
“Successful U.S. Air Force flight-testing demonstrated the current 65-minute mandatory steel brake cooling time after a heavy landing can be reduced to just five minutes when using our new carbon brakes. This now allows the aircraft and flight crew to quickly depart tactical areas after unloading cargo, without having to wait over an hour for the brakes to cool down,” explained Jeff Atkinson, director of military programs at Goodrich’s wheels and brakes business.
C-130 retrofit activity started earlier this year. Goodrich claims new C-130 boltless wheels and carbon brakes provide eight times longer brake life than the current performance. In addition, wheel life is said to be six times greater.
Goodrich (Outdoor Exhibit 4) is also upgrading its Enterprise Customer Portal (ECP) website with streamlined search feature and easier navigation. Some 1.8 million activities took place through the website last year. Customers use it to search for parts and repair capabilities, as well as to place orders.
A joint venture with Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, Goodrich-Messier recently won Airbus’ Gold award for Best Improver. This sanctioned “zero rejects with on-time delivery performance of 97 percent in 2011.” Goodrich-Messier supplies wheels and brakes for the Airbus A330/340. It received the award at the annual Airbus Supply Chain and Quality Improvement Program review day in Toulouse.

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