Weathering storms for generations -- Collins Aerospace provides market-leading GoodrichⓇ ice detection and protection systems

Business and regional aircraft OEMs, pilots and owners can now turn to Collins Aerospace for the most innovative de-icing technologies in the industry, courtesy of its GoodrichⓇ portfolio of solutions. Our pneumatic ice protection system was the first commercial product -- launching on the Northrop Alpha mail plane in 1932. More than eight decades later, Goodrich de-icing products remain the aircraft manufacturer's choice in ice protection.

Originally part of the B.F. Goodrich Company, this long-standing de-icing business is now part of Collins Aerospace. Created in 2018 by bringing together UTC Aerospace Systems and Rockwell Collins, Collins Aerospace is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry.

“Although we’ve had some ownership changes over the years, what hasn’t changed is our commitment to applying new de-icing technology to already proven products to meet our customers’ ever-changing needs,” said Ken Heath, business development manager for the Goodrich de-icing portfolio at Collins Aerospace. “In fact, our focus on ice protection research and development has resulted in more than 130 ice protection product patents granted to us since 1930, including the invention of the pneumatic de-icer. No other company can make that claim.”

Today, Goodrich de-icing products remain the ice protection market leaders, type-certified on more than 95 percent of OEM non-bleed air aircraft platforms, thanks to our proven history of engineering excellence and our ongoing commitment to continual product innovation and development. We provide a broad and competitive product portfolio, including Goodrich FASTboot® and Goodrich SILVERboot™ pneumatic de-icers; DuraTherm® electrothermal ice protection and heating products for propeller and rotor ice protection systems.

Quality installation and ongoing service for those industry-leading products is ensured through the more than 60 global locations of our Authorized Installer Network. In addition, proprietary design engineering, materials and manufacturing processes are optimized and validated in Collins’ state-of-the-art icing wind tunnel and rain erosion silo.

“Because our Collins Aerospace team has long demonstrated its commitment to flight safety, several of our employees serve as industry experts on the AC-9C Aircraft Icing Technology Committee and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics,” Heath said. “We’re honored to share our expertise with these groups as they help set policy for aircraft worldwide.”

When the 2019 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition gets underway in Las Vegas on Oct. 22, pilots can experience the Goodrich pneumatic de-icer at the Collins Aerospace booth #C10807 and learn more about these market-leading products.

“In our particular business, we’re only a layer or two removed from the end customer -- owners and operators of business and regional aircraft,” Heath said. “We look forward to catching up with existing customers at NBAA now that the Goodrich portfolio is part of Collins Aerospace, as well as having the opportunity to meet new ones face to face.