Napoleon Engineering Services (NES) offers Reverse Engineering (RE) of type certified aircraft ball and roller bearings in support of FAA-PMA certification. Additionally, NES is a qualified manufacturer of FAA-PMA bearings.
 
RE of a type certified bearing is the first step in the PMA process.  If carried out by a facility with the proper inspection, testing and bearing design capability, it will satisfy the requirements of CFR14 Subpart K and FAA Order 8110.42 under test and computation. NES is a qualified partner in this process.

“We fill in all the gaps for a customer who wants to be a certified PMA holder for an aircraft bearing. By providing a full-service, highly-qualified Reverse Engineering team,” says NES President Chris Napoleon “along with the ability to manufacture custom bearings in-house, we are a full service partner. NES provides a high level of bearing design and manufacturing expertise during the process along with a significant cost-savings to the FAA-PMA holder.”

 
Proper reverse engineering ensures that FAA-PMA aircraft replacement bearings will meet or exceed the same rigorous quality, design and performance standards as those originally specified. To support these requirements, a team of highly experienced NES bearing engineers and technicians perform a thorough physical evaluation of the aircraft bearings, using highly specialized equipment and data analysis tools. The end product is an accurate and detailed analysis which provides all of the necessary inspection data along with a detailed assembly drawing supporting the approval process coupled with manufacturing expertise that ensures that the bearing meets or exceeds the application requirements.
 
PMA, when used in conjunction with a qualified aerospace bearing manufacturer, such as NES, is an excellent way to reduce the overall cost of aircraft and equipment maintenance, repair and overhaul. According to Napoleon, “We are always customer focused, it’s the core of our business model, and as an essential business, we’re fully operational and ready to answer customer calls within two rings day in and day out.”