Helicopter Bearings: The Same Engineering Expertise Protects Both the Rotor System and the Landing Gear

One Liner, Two Critical Functions

Did you know that the same type of bearing technology that allows a helicopter's rotor blades to move smoothly also helps absorb the impact when the aircraft lands? Fiberglide®, developed by RBC Bearings, is a third-generation self-lubricating liner that combines PTFE (commonly known as Teflon) with proprietary resins and structural fibers. This bearing technology is used throughout the main and tail rotor systems, including rotary controls, the swashplate slider, pitch links, and lead-lag dampers. The same self-lubricating technology is also applied in landing gear shock absorbers, where it helps absorb landing loads without requiring external lubrication. One of the key advantages of this bearing system is that it requires little to no maintenance throughout its service life. It is highly resistant to contamination from hydraulic fluids, abrasive particles, and harsh operating environments, while providing consistent, predictable wear across the full thickness of the liner. The result is reduced unscheduled maintenance and greater reliability in applications where failure is simply not an option. At BIOSA, we apply the same engineering principle—on a different scale—when recommending self-lubricating bearings for industrial equipment operating in dusty, wet, or contaminated environments. In these conditions, eliminating routine lubrication while maintaining dependable performance can significantly improve equipment uptime and reduce maintenance costs.