Comtek Celebrates 30 Years

Aircraft Structural Repair Services

Comtek’s early repair work was primarily for Dash 8 aircraft with a focus on developing repair solutions for commonly damaged parts. By 1997, Comtek had pioneered repair processes for extensively damaged composite leading edges including punctures and major damage from bird strikes, becoming the only Approved Facility for major custom repairs on Dash 8 leading edges. Over the next 25+ years, we would continue to develop over 1000 repair schemes that we leverage to address complex and extensive damage. Our ability to return heavily damaged parts to service has become a staple of Comtek’s repair capabilities as we continue to provide value to our customers with aging fleets. Today, Comtek provides repair services for all the main regional airplane programs including Dash 8, CRJ, E-Jets and ATR.

Aerospace Composites Design & Manufacturing

At the heart of Comtek’s core is the drive to advance composite manufacturing to produce lighter weight, lower cost yet high performing aerospace components. Over the years, we have completed numerous challenging projects by developing and qualifying new material systems and manufacturing processes to meet the lightweight goals of our customers. From material selection to part design, process development, prototyping, and manufacturing, Comtek has completed a wide array of projects tailored for challenging aerospace applications.

Comtek's pioneering resin infusion technology originated with the development of prototype carbon structural parts for Formula 1 race cars in 2002. Since then, we have further enhanced the technology for aerospace applications, including the production of resin-infused parts for the Airbus A380 program. These were among the very first parts to have been certified and introduced into service on a Part 25 commercial transport – in this case, the world's largest transport aircraft!

We continue to leverage resin infusion and other out-of-autoclave technologies on new aircraft programs based on a strong cost advantage compared to legacy composites production methods such as autoclave cure. From the development of high strength, collapsible transit cases to our extensive work in aero-engine components, our get it done culture continues to drive us to provide the innovation that supports our customers’ goals.

With early focus on repairs, Comtek serviced hundreds of damaged floor panels and quickly gained valuable expertise on airplane floor panel design. We learned why panels failed, where they failed, and how to remedy panel durability through improved design. Our entrepreneurial culture drove Comtek to implement improvements, paving the way for our first Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) in 1995, which allowed us to sell Comtek-designed and built replacement panels for Dash 8 airplanes. Then, in 1997, we secured our first OEM contract for the design and manufacture of the complete flooring system on Bombardier’s Q400 program launch (now De Havilland Dash 8-400), which we continue to support today. These two early successes were the first key milestones in what followed as a highly successful journey of floor panel supply for Business Jet and Regional airplane markets. Today, Comtek remains a key supplier of floor panels for Bombardier business jets, and provides OEM or aftermarket supply of floor panels for nearly every major Regional airplane program.