The US company CW Aerotech Services is seeking to get certification for its new nitrogen-hybrid landing gear, the company announced at the Paris Air Show. The new gear uses silicon fluid instead of hydraulic fluid and is safer and more durable.

The new landing gear on the Eurocopter AS365N and AS366G Dauphin series aircraft uses nitrogen in the upper chamber and silicon fluid in the cartridge interior enabling lesser leaks, safer handling, decreased viscosity variation and low contamination risk.

CW Aerotech has already received US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Form 8110 permission for the types, implying that approved repair centres can perform the work if the operator then applies for FAA field approval.

The new system underwent military airworthiness qualifications and has flown the first part of an operational evaluation for the US Coastguard.