American Airlines Partners With Safran to Reduce its Environmental Footprint With Lighter, More Efficient Brakes

As part of its commitment to minimize the environmental impact of air travel, American Airlines, the world’s largest operator by fleet size, has partnered with Safran Landing Systems to upgrade its Boeing 737NG fleet from steel to carbon brakes, representing more than 300 aircraft currently in operation.

Lighter than steel brakes, with up to 700 pounds (320 kg) of weight savings per aircraft, this upgrade to the Safran Landing Systems carbon brakes configuration will help American meet its sustainability commitments by reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 77 tons per Boeing 737NG aircraft every year.

Thanks to its superior energy absorption and twice the endurance of the steel configuration, the Safran Landing Systems brake, compatible with both Boeing 737NG and Boeing 737 MAX families, provides operators with a significant improvement in operational performance and delivers the lowest operating costs on the market.

This major initiative highlights Safran Landing System’s and American’s common sustainability values and reinforces their shared commitment of playing a leadership role in helping decarbonize the broader airline industry and meeting the aviation industry goal of net zero GHG emissions by 2050.

Kevin Brickner, American Airlines Senior Vice President of Technical Operations: “Ensuring our existing fleet — the youngest among U.S. network carriers — is operating as efficiently as possible is critical to reaching our climate goals. Reducing our flight weight with a superior braking product is a win-win for our operation.”   

Cédric Goubet, Safran Landing Systems CEO: “We are honored to begin this partnership on wheels and brakes with American Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the world. This partnership recognizes the excellence of our equipment, the high level of expertise of our teams as well as our Research & Technology efforts to reduce the impact of air transport on the environment. This collaboration is a great opportunity for Safran Landing Systems to increase its presence in the U.S. market and expand the growing activity of its Walton site.”

Safran Landing Systems will manufacture the wheels and carbon brakes and perform the carbon heat sinks exchanges in its state-of-the art production plant in Walton, Kentucky, which has over 350 highly qualified employees. American’s world-class Technical Operations team will complete the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul services at its base maintenance facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This contract is provided under Landing LifeTM, the support and services offer which covers all Safran Landing Systems' after-sales business.