BFGoodrich Aerospace selects Targa Series 3 for NAVY COSSI Program

CHARLOTTE, NC, July 28, 1999 * The BFGoodrich Company (NYSE:GR) announced today that its Aerospace Aircraft Integrated Systems (BFG AIS) of Vergennes, Vermont, is working with the U.S. Navy to test a system to reduce helicopter operation and support costs, while enhancing flight safety.

BFG currently is completing a flight program leading to Development Test (DT) and Operational Test (OT) of the BFGoodrich Integrated Mechanical Diagnostics Health and Usage Monitoring System (IMD HUMS). The aircraft system installation and check out is being completed aboard a CH-53E helicopter at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, MD.

The integration check flights performed to date have verified basic system functionality for Rotor Track and Balance, Regime Recognition, Operational Usage, Engine Performance Assessment, Mechanical Diagnostics Vibration Procedures and Exceedance Monitoring. All applications of this technology will reduce operations and support costs, improve readiness and enhance flight safety.

BFG was contracted to retrofit several Navy CH-53 and SH-60 helicopters with HUMS as part of the Commercial Operations and Support Savings Initiative (COSSI) in 1997. Upon completion of OT, the Navy will equip all CH-53E and MH-53E helicopters with the BFGoodrich system. BFG is also providing HUMS for the Naval SH-60B fleet, which is following a similar DT and OT process. Concurrently, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation has agreed to offer the BFG IMD-COSSI HUMS on all new S-92 and S-76 helicopters. BFG AIS has also been selected by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps to develop HUMS for UH-60 and H-1 fleets, respectively.

Product design, development and integration activities for both the on-board and ground-based systems have been jointly developed with the full support of the U.S. Government, the aircraft's manufacturer, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, and European prime contractor Vibro-Meter SA of Fribourg, Switzerland.

BFGoodrich Aircraft Integrated Systems, headquartered in Vergennes, Vermont, also designs and manufactures fuel measurement and management systems and aircraft utility systems for commercial and military OEMs. Aircraft Integrated Systems is part of BFGoodrich Aerospace, the #2 aerospace systems and components supplier in North America, and a leading supplier worldwide.

The BFGoodrich Company, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, has leading market positions in aerospace systems, performance materials and industrial products, with annual revenues of approximately $6 billion.