“Orbital ATK brings to this investigation more than 60 years of experience in energetic materials, propulsion technology and failure analyses on energetic systems.”
The revolving door of government employees came around this morning with the announcement that former NHTSA Acting Administrator David Kelly will serve as project manager for the ten automakers that have hired Orbital ATK to conduct independent testing on Takata airbag inflators.
The automakers – BMW, FCA US, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota – are doing their own testing by supplementing current airbag inflator testing being undertaken by Takata whose inflators rupture sending shrapnel into a vehicle.
While the specific issues facing each company “may vary depending on the inflator model, the affected automakers are committed to working together to find the root cause of the ruptures in Takata inflators,” they said in a statement.
Following today’s announcement, Orbital ATK will lead overall engineering research into the issues surrounding Takata airbag inflators. Kelly will serve as project manager and coordinator for the automakers, directing the research program and acting as primary contact for media and other public requests.
“Orbital ATK brings to this investigation more than 60 years of experience in energetic materials, propulsion technology and failure analyses on energetic systems,” said Charlie Precourt, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK’s Propulsion Systems Division.
