Airbus jobs secure after £103m boost

May 30 2008 by Lois Bishop, Chester Chronicle

Airbus jobs secure after £103m boost

A MASSIVE £103m research programme into new wing technology will secure thousands of aircraft jobs for years to come.

Airbus Broughton boss Brian Fleet said: “It is the biggest single investment the UK has ever made in this type of research and technology.”

Head of performance and development Dr Gareth Williams added: “This is an important programme for Broughton. The Welsh Assembly Government is funding the programme to the tune of £7.5m, equivalent within Broughton and Filton to 75 full-time engineers, technicians and specialists working on this research programme.

“The announcement highlights an investment of £103m over the next three years into new technology and techniques for the next generation of composite wings.”

Composite wings will be lighter, giving greater fuel efficiency and cost-savings .

Mr Fleet said as research develops Broughton, which has already secured work on the A350 – the first commercial airliner to make use of composite wings – will be required to trial the new techniques.

He added: “Research is taking place across Europe on composites for use in the primary airframe structure and we have probably lagged behind our partners until recently.”

Broughton employs more than 7,000 workers producing wings for the entire Airbus family.

At the launch of the research programme in London, Alyn and Deeside Labour MP Mark Tami said: “This is excellent news for Broughton, which demonstrates how Airbus is committed to the UK manufacturing sector and skilled British workers.”