Etihad Engineering and Lantal Open First Commercial Flammability Test Lab in the Middle East

Etihad Airways Engineering and Lantal Textiles AG have opened the first certified Flammability Test Laboratory in the Middle East.

Located inside the Etihad Airways Engineering facility annexed to Abu Dhabi International Airport, the Lantal lab will serve certification needs of VIP operators, MRO organisations, design and production organisations as well as cabin interior suppliers.

“We offer industry leading aircraft maintenance and engineering solutions to customers from all over the world for all major commercial aircraft types. Through our partnership with Lantal, it is now easier and faster for aviation customers in the region to access world-class flammability testing at our facility in Abu Dhabi,” said Jeff Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways Engineering.

Establishing new burn labs is delicate, time-consuming and expensive. Certifying aviation components as fire-retardant to aviation regulatory standards requires specialised equipment which must be built, then proven to consistently yield reliable test results which can serve as proof of conformity to Airworthiness Regulations FAR / CS 25.853.

The new laboratory will also conform to ISO 17025 quality management standards, which ensure that procedures are properly documented and followed on site.

Lantal is a leader in the design, production, and distribution of textiles, parts, and services for aircraft, train, bus, and executive cabin interiors. The company has a long-established reputation for in-house design expertise and strong engineering competencies.

Etihad Airways Engineering is the largest commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider in the Middle East.

Dr. Urs Rickenbacher, Chief Executive Officer of Lantal said: “The Lantal flammability test lab in Switzerland is well-known for its high quality standards and short lead times. We have a significant market share in Europe and our new lab in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Etihad Airways Engineering, will now bring our service closer to customers in the Middle East.”

Featured Image: At the launch of the Lantal Flammability Test Lab at Etihad Airways Engineering in Abu Dhabi, are: (left to right) Peter Baumgartner, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways; Dr. Urs Rickenbacher, Chief Executive Officer, Lantal; Bernhard Randerath, Vice President, Design, Engineering and Innovation, Etihad Airways Engineering; Heiko Nüssel, Partner, Executive Vice President, Compliance and Certification, Lantal; Shevantha Weerasekera, Head of Engineering, Etihad Airways Engineering; Jeff Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways Engineering; Jürg Metz, Swiss Consul.