Landing Gear System Supports Freighter Ground Stability

The cooperation between Liebherr-Aerospace and Airbus focuses on adapting landing gear technology for the Airbus A350F freighter, introducing a sensor-based system to monitor aircraft balance during ground loading operations.

Context of the Cooperation
Liebherr-Aerospace and Airbus have collaborated for over five decades on flight control and landing gear systems. Within the A350 program, Liebherr acts as a key supplier, responsible for critical components including the nose landing gear and associated actuation systems.

The A350F freighter variant introduces a specific operational challenge: rear cargo door loading behind the main landing gear shifts the aircraft’s center of gravity during loading. This creates a risk of tail tipping if load distribution is not properly controlled. Addressing this requires precise, real-time load monitoring integrated into the aircraft’s ground operation systems.

Technical Solution and Responsibilities
To support Airbus’ “Safety Beyond Standard” design approach, Liebherr developed an integrated sensing solution within the nose landing gear system. The system uses an electronic pressure sensor embedded in the change-over valve of the shock absorber.

This sensor measures internal pressure within the oleo-pneumatic shock absorber, which correlates directly with the load acting on the nose landing gear. The data is used by the aircraft’s onboard systems to calculate ground balance conditions.

Airbus integrates this data into a tail tipping warning system, which alerts operators when loading conditions approach unsafe thresholds. The solution relies on established principles of load sensing and pressure-based measurement, ensuring compatibility with existing aircraft system architectures and safety standards.

Deployment and Industrial Integration
The nose landing gear system for the A350F is developed, qualified, and manufactured at Liebherr’s facility in Lindenberg, Germany. The system is delivered as part of the aircraft’s primary structure and integrated into Airbus’ final assembly and testing processes.

The solution is designed to interface with the aircraft’s digital monitoring systems, supporting real-time data processing during ground operations. Maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services are provided through Liebherr’s aftermarket network, ensuring lifecycle support.

Applications and Use Cases
The primary application is in long-range cargo aircraft operations, particularly during ground handling and loading of main deck freight. The system enables:

These functions are relevant for cargo airlines, ground handling operators, and airport logistics systems, where operational safety and process reliability are critical.

Results and Expected Impact
The integration of pressure-based load sensing into the landing gear provides a measurable improvement in ground operation safety by enabling condition-based warnings. The approach reduces reliance on manual load estimation and procedural safeguards, instead using direct physical measurement.

This cooperation demonstrates how component-level innovation combined with system-level integration can address specific operational risks in modern aerospace platforms, particularly in specialized variants such as freighter aircraft.

Edited by an industrial journalist Sucithra Mani with AI assistance.

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