plane talk autumn 2014 - Aerospace · 2 plane talk autumn 2014 I’m sure that many of you will...

plane talkautumn 2014

North West’s Best Apprentice Nominations Open

First NATEP Projects launched in North West Region

Plus:North West & Member NewsThe latest from the Isle of Man

2 plane talk autumn 2014 www.aerospace.co.uk

I’m sure that many of you will join me in thanking my previous boss Martin Wright for the contribution he has made to our industry here in the North West of England. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working for him and hopefully learnt enough from him to take the business forward.

Many of you will know that we have successfully completed the £7 million Aerospace Supply Chain Excellence (ASCE) 2 Programme both from an Industry and Government perspective.

The end of large programmes, such as ASCE2, inevitably leads to changes in the team and I’d like to personally thank those that have left NWAA at the end of the programme for the contribution they have made to its successful delivery and the valuable support they have provided to many NWAA members.

However, I’d also like to note that the NWAA Team that will take the organisation forwards contains a deep understanding of the supply chain, innovation and skills along with a pragmatic approach that has always helped us to support our industry sector.

As one programme ends within NWAA, others are only just beginning. The National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme has just offered £383,000 to the first three project consortia supported by NWAA. We have also won a significant package of work from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at Sheffield, as part of the Sharing In Growth Programme, to provide a manufacturing capability framework and support.

Already in the first weeks in my new role, new opportunities for NWAA are emerging. Over the next 12 months we will see significant developments at the regional level as local enterprise partnerships start the process of implementing their strategies for advanced manufacturing.

I think we will also see some exciting developments on the Enterprise Zones at both Samlesbury and Warton which both offer the opportunity to enhance advanced manufacturing in Lancashire. NWAA can make an important contribution to these developments at the regional and local level and thereby keep the North West of England at the

forefront of advanced manufacturing and grow our 25% share of the UK’s Aerospace Industry.

Whilst my previous role within NWAA has largely been in contributing to the major supply chain programmes, my first priority as Chief Executive is to focus on providing benefits to the wider membership.

What I’ve heard from members over the last few months is that they would value a return to NWAA Member Forums, a quarterly event held in the evening followed by a networking supper.

Our first new NWAA Member Forum will take place in the next few weeks so please come along and help me build this regular event and a valuable networking opportunity.

I also think that if I’m going to represent NWAA members in the best possible way then I need to understand your organisations better. If you would be prepared to show me around your site, then please get in touch and I’ll try my best to get to know your business.

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CONTENTS

2 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S STATEMENT 3 CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

4-5 NATEP NEWS

Moving forward

By Dr David Bailey, Chief Executive Officer, NWAA

It is with a great deal of pride that I write my first report as Chief Executive of the North West Aerospace Alliance and I’d like to thank all those members who have written to congratulate me on this appointment, your kind words have been much appreciated.

4-5 6-7 9 12-13

10-11 MEMBER NEWS

12-13 ISLE OF MAN NEWS

14-19 MEMBER NEWS

6-7 NWAA NEWS

8 MEMBER NEWS 9 SKILLS NEWS

3plane talk autumn 2014@NWAerospace

Prospects and ChallengesBy Neil McKay, Chairman, NWAA

As you are all aware from recent announcements this organisation has a new CEO, as David Bailey takes over from Martin Wright, who retired at the end of July.

David has worked for the NWAA for 9 years most of that time as Executive Director and so has a wealth of experience of our, and the industry’s, activities and issues at the highest level.

David and his team are extremely confident and actively engaged in the next phases of our future and these directions and ambitions will be outlined to the membership over the course of our autumn events after ratification by the boards strategic review in September. I eagerly anticipate some exciting approaches building on the solid foundations of our present position.

May I take this opportunity to thank Martin for the excellent work through his 10 year tenure in office and commend him for the level of achievement he has led this organisation to attain through that period. He has been a pleasure to work with and his professional and determined attitude has served this business well in furthering its strategic purpose through some

extremely difficult times both politically and industrially. I am sure that I speak for you all in congratulating him and wishing him well in his retirement.

This summer saw the completion of the ASCE2 programme, a very successful phase in the development of the supply chain here in the North West with a wide range of rewarding impacts significantly increasing business growth, skills capability and strategic management in the programme participants organisations.

Clearly it is our intention to continue to support the application of this learned activity through our membership as well as applying the IPR and knowledge gained in future programmes.

We are still involved in planning and negotiations at national and local level about the right and proper programmes for future supply chain development and will seek further initiatives in this area to add to our current portfolio of programme activity.

Farnborough was again a successful

event and a very busy show. The NWAA stand was an extremely busy area with lots of business activity creating a bustling atmosphere.

On the Tuesday of the show celebrated our 20th anniversary and we marked the event with an activity on the stand attended by many of you.

As an organisation we have come a long way in that 20 years to create an NWAA that is respected as a leading light in a number of crucial industry areas and is therefore seen as a key stakeholder in the future of aerospace. We approach the next 20 years with a confident and assured pedigree continuing to increase the competitiveness of our industry.

With that in mind I am personally thrilled by David’s appointment, as is the board, and we look forward to some challenging and outstanding prospects under his dynamic leadership.

AvSuport LtdMacclesfield, Cheshirewww.avsupport.aero

FlextronicsWarrington, Cheshire01925 260 700

The NWAA welcomes...NWAA would like to welcome the following new members.

Jonathan Lee RecruitmentStourbridge, West Midlandswww.jonlee.co.uk

Mantar Engineering LtdCheshirewww.mantarengineering.co.uk

Mini Gears (Stockport) LtdStockport, Manchesterwww.minigears.co.uk

Training ByteSizeNantwich, Cheshirewww.trainingbytesize.com


NATEP NEWS

• Do you have an idea that might improve a process, a technology, a supply chain?

• If you had some funding & a little support do you think you could improve, invent or develop something that would help your business & the aerospace industry?

• Do you think that if you had some funding that you could introduce a change or an improvement to one of your existing products or processes that might make you a market leader?

• Do you find yourself thinking “If only I could get some support & funding I could create a new, better or quicker way of doing something that would make me better than my competition”?

• Do you have an idea to combine existing technologies into one product that would create something better than its constituent parts?

MAKEYOURIDEASHAPPEN

... then NATEP may be able to help!

To �nd out more, please contact Sally Giles on 01772 648811 or [email protected]

You don’t need an R&D department or a dedicated technology development programme,NATEP is fully supported from application to project close out.

Call 4 for funding is now open – you have until 15th December to submit an outline application. Talk to us about how to apply & we can provide advice on the best way to present your ideas.


NATEP NEWS

Three industry collaborations have been selected to receive funding through the first round of calls in the North West via the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) and will launching imminently, subject to contracts.

The Great Circle Ltd and the University of Central Lancashire are working in partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies on the Flight Guardian Project.

Flight Guardian is a first of a generation disruptive cockpit technology part funded by NATEP to improve the safety of aircraft. It uses body worn sensors and computing devices to act in many respects as a virtual co-pilot, providing a pilot with an extra pair of eyes to monitor the aircraft instruments, spotting and even predicting problems before they occur. It will produce warnings for the pilot and offer advice on a course of mitigating action to take to prevent accidents

Magnesium Elektron has joined forces with, Mettis Aerospace, Kenard Engineering and an aircraft seat OEM to develop a lightweight forged magnesium aircraft seat component with NATEP funding.

The Featherlite Aircraft Seat Project aims to reduce the barriers to an OEM using UK sourced magnesium in commercial aerospace. This will be achieved by optimising the supply chain value of the forged magnesium component by maximising the fly to buy ratio and to

First North West collaborative projects launched by NWAA through the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme

minimise the material cost through full economic recovery of all process scrap arisings.

Triumph Actuation Systems UK & IOM with I2M (Innovate to Manufacture) Ltd are working on the Additive Manufactured Actuation System (AMAS) Project, which will be funded jointly through NATEP and Welsh Government. BAE Systems are a party to the project and are highly interested in the outcome.

The AMAS project aims to develop compact, strong, and lightweight actuators for small platforms. The project will develop a ‘close to product’, electro-mechanical actuator which serves as a technology prototype to demonstrate the feasibility and capability of using Additive Manufacturing processes to produce a lightweight actuation solution, redesigning & manufacturing the majority of components utilising Additive Manufacturing.

Delivered by NWAA in the North West, NATEP is a £40m programme, funded by £23 million from the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI) and approximately £17 million from partners, aimed at suppliers to help develop innovative technologies and increase their ability to win new business through maturing 100 underdeveloped aerospace technologies and creating jobs within the supply chain.

NATEP

Dr David Bailey, Chief Executive Officer of NWAA, said: “NWAA is delighted to have supported these first three projects through the NATEP Programme and winning hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding for the companies involved.”

“We look forward to helping even more companies in the next round, to ensure that aerospace companies in the North West of England get the funding they need to develop these great ideas that are out there.”

There is funding for further projects available through NATEP. The next funding call is now open and allows technology related applications to be submitted by 15th December 2014. A final funding call will be made at the start of 2015, closing in May.

To find out more about these projects and how you can access funding through NATEP, the NWAA is holding an event on 10th October 2014 at the Concorde Conference Centre in Manchester.

The NATEP Team are exhibiting at the Northern Manufacturing & Electronics Forum on 1st and 2nd October at EventCity in Manchester – if you want to have an informal chat about a project, come and see us on stand D10.

They will also be at the AeroEngineering Show at the NEC on 11th & 12th November.


NWAA NEWS

The record breaking 2014 Farnborough Airshow was a huge success for the North West Aerospace Alliance and our members.

By the close of the exhibition, airshow organisers, Farnborough International Ltd, confirmed the total sum of orders and commitments at the Farnborough International Airshow had reached US$201bn, beating all previous records set for the show. This figure represents an extremely positive note for North West companies involved in the aerospace industry.

Across the course of the five days, orders and commitments for civil jet engines reached 1600 units with a total value or US$34.5bn and over 1100 aircraft totalling US$152bn. A further US$14.5 was also achieved in service contracts. These orders reflect the buoyancy of the aerospace industry internationally and in the UK. Airbus alone won business worth more than $75 billion for 496 both aircraft at Farnborough Air Show 2014, which was a new Airbus record at Farnborough and great news for the supply chain in the North West.

Twenty-two companies exhibited on the NWAA stand during Farnborough, many more exhibited on their own stands or walked the show, using our stand as a base to conduct meetings.

The NWAA stand attracted many admirers due to its bold colour, design and spacious networking areas, which were extremely busy throughout the four business days.

On Tuesday afternoon, there was literally standing room only as we celebrated our 20th anniversary with members, partners, stakeholders,

industry officials and trade show visitors. During the reception, we said a fond farewell to Martin Wright, who retired from his position as Chief Executive Officer after 10 years with the company. Dr David Bailey has now stepped into the role of Chief Executive Officer from 1st August.

Over 100,000 visitors attended the show and there was a strong government attendance with the Prime Minister, David Cameron, opening the show and a number of cabinet officials and other government figures including Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, MP, Vince Cable, Philip Dunne, Michael Fallon and Philip Hammond attended during the week.

A number of high profile VIPs visited the NWAA stand to speak to members, including:

• Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Services at the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, Janice Munday• Labour & Co-operative MP for Preston, Mark Hendrick• Labour MP for Wigan, Yvonne Fovarge• British Deputy High Commissioner, Ian Felton• Representatives from the Lancashire LEP

UK Industry Minister, Michael Fallon MP, also took time out of his busy schedule to speak to NWAA staff about the NATEP Programme in the North West (pictured top right).

During the show, the NWAA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MARA and BAE Systems to support the development of the Malaysian aerospace supply chain (pictured bottom right).

Successful Farnborough for NWAA Members

In the news...The North West presence at the airshow generated a large amount of national publicity for NWAA and its members.

We arranged for representatives from the North West media to visit our stand during the show, which resulted in a number of members and the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster being interviewed for BBC North West Tonight (pictured below) and BBC Radio Lancashire.

Regional newspaper journalists also interviewed member companies about their involvement with aircraft programmes, such as F-35 and Typhoon.

Feedback from our exhibitors...“Exhibiting on the NWAA stand is an effective way to participate at Farnborough.”

“Attending FIA 2014 with the NWAA was a highly positive experience and we managed to achieve all our event objectives. It really is the place to meet the industry and to gain a sense of the global nature of the aerospace industry.”

“It is only through the fantastic support from the NWAA that our company is able to exhibit at Farnborough. The hall position, stand quality, facilities and of course, the staff, all make the exhibition week very beneficial to our business.”


NWAA NEWS

The BoardKeith Harrison

SilcomsDeputy Chairman01204 466070

Ray MaddisonT&R Precision Engineers Ltd

Deputy Chairman01282 862116

Steve VandersteenBAE Systems

Director01254 768030

Syd CarsonMorson Projects

Director0161 707 1516

Norman ThompsonAirbusDirector

01244 520444

Sharon McDonaldNWAA

Company Secretary01772 648822

Anthony HammondHyde Group


Martin KellyLancashire County Council


Mark ProckterRolls-Royce


Richard AinscoughPM+MDirector

01254 679131

Middle top: Mark Hendrick, MP for Preston, met Hurst Green Plastics on our stand.Middle bottom: John Reed from CGTech celebrated his 70th birthday on the stand at Farnborough.


MEMBER NEWS

For the second summer running, nearly 100 undergraduates and recent graduates are taking up paid internships at BAE Systems in the UK.

Over a 12-week period, the 94 interns will be paid £4,200 during their work placement (£16,800 per annum pro rata), as well as receiving an externally recognised certificate from EAL (Excellence, Achievement & Learning), the industry specialist awarding organisation, which is part of the Semta Group. BAE Systems and Semta will offer the interns programme again in 2015. In total 94 interns have places with BAE Systems working at one of eight different business units in a variety of roles ranging from engineering to business development to procurement. Thirty-four have joined the Applied Intelligence business working in London, Gloucester, Gloucestershire or Guildford in Surrey. Twenty-three are with the Military Air and Information business, most of whom are based in Warton, Lancashire and 11 are working within the Submarines in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. An additional 10 people have joined the Naval Ships business at Filton, Bristol, Frimley, Surrey or Glasgow and a further eight have joined the Maritime Services business most of who are based in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Three students are working

in Combat Vehicles UK in Telford, Shropshire and the remaining five interns are based in Head Office and Shared Services business in various locations across England and Scotland. The internship scheme has been created in partnership with skills body Semta, the employer-led body responsible for equipping the UK’s vital engineering, science and manufacturing technologies sectors with the skills to compete on the global stage. Ross Godbolt, a 21 year old student studying Aerospace Engineering at Leeds University is on a placement at the Military Air and Information business in Warton. He said: “I’ve had the chance to meet, work with, and learn from a wide selection of interesting people, all with in-depth knowledge and experience. So far I’ve had the opportunity to see operations on the Typhoon jet final assembly line at Warton and the production and assembly line of the F-35 at Samlesbury. “I’m developing a much higher level of understanding and knowledge of a good private industry – this is something that cannot be fully taught at college or university. This experience will give me a much greater chance of employment in the future across a range of businesses.

“Additionally, the BAE Systems internship offers the opportunity of being fast tracked through the initial recruitment stages when applying for the BAE Systems Graduate Development Framework - if I achieve an ‘outstanding’ final review. “The internship is a fantastic opportunity to gain vital industry experience and I’d recommend it to any student”.

Judith Chapman, Head of Human Resources at Semta, said: “We are delighted to be working with BAE Systems on this excellent initiative promoting opportunities within the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector and playing a part in ensuring the long term supply of professional people within the industry.

Ayesha Godigamuwe, HR Manager – Graduate Programmes at BAE Systems said: “As well as providing an invaluable opportunity to get paid to learn and develop core skills, the internship offers the possibility of employment with BAE Systems after completion. Individuals who demonstrate outstanding performance on the internship will not have to complete all the stages of the graduate recruitment process should they wish to join us, and I certainly hope that by enabling our interns to have an insight in to the inspiring work that we do, that many will seize this opportunity.”

Nearly 100 interns take up paid training at BAE Systems

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SKILLS NEWS

The New Talent Awards which are organised annually by the North West Aerospace Alliance have now been launched for 2014.

The aim of these awards is to raise the profile of the aerospace sector and recognise the achievements made by young professionals working and studying in the North West Aerospace & Defence Industry.

Awards include:

• The North West’s Best Aerospace and Defence Apprentice Winner• The North West’s Best Aerospace and Defence Apprentice Runner Up• The One to Watch • Training Provider Prize

During this interview the candidates will be asked to present a project that demonstrates the development of their engineering skills during their apprenticeship. For full criteria please see the guidelines.

A prize will also be awarded to the training provider that takes the best approach to marketing, administration and preparation of candidates for this award. The winners are announced at the New Talent Awards Evening on 26th February.

Nominations are now open for the Apprentice Award, please see our website for further information and nomination forms.

The Business University Challenge entries will open in December 2014.

• The Business University Challenge Team Winners• The Business University Challenge Individual Professional Excellence Awards

The competition is open to all final year apprentices working in aerospace or defence in the North West. Training providers, colleges and employers in the North West are invited to nominate apprentices who meet the set criteria.

The closing date for nominations is Friday 17th October 2014.

All candidates will be invited for a 45 minute interview with the judging panel at the NWAA office in Preston during December 2014.

Nominations Open Now!


MEMBER NEWS

A recent survey from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) shows there is still a serious lack of women in engineering, with only five percent of women making up the average aerospace sector engineering workforce.

The IET’s annual Skills & Demand in Industry survey interviewed 400 engineering and IT companies on their recruitment plans, skills and women in the workforce. The results showed that none of the ten sectors surveyed had a higher average result than eight percent of women in their workforce.

These results are interesting considering the survey also shows that demand for engineers remains high (51 percent of companies are currently recruiting), but a number of those are having difficulties recruiting the staff they need for their businesses to expand.

Overall, the survey showed the proportion of female engineers in all industries has not improved since

Only 5% of aerospace engineers are female, according to IET survey

2008 and currently stands at just 6 per cent of the workforce. Despite this poor record, the survey suggests that 43 per cent of employers are not taking any specific action to improve workplace diversity.

Other findings include:

• 59 per cent of companies indicated concerns that a shortage of engineers would be a threat to their businesses• 53 per cent of employers believe they should get more involved with schools, colleges and universities to help change the perception of engineering among young people• 44 per cent of engineering, IT and technical recruits do not meet the employer’s expected levels of skills• 52 per cent of organisations anticipate employing more apprentices in 4 to 5 years’ time• Since 2013, the number of Intermediate Apprenticeships (Level 2) offered by employers has more than doubled but the number of Higher Apprenticeships (Level 4) has remained static.

Nigel Fine, IET Chief Executive, said: “Demand for engineers in the UK remains high. Research from Engineering UK suggests we need to find 87,000 new engineers each year for the next decade, so now is the time to act.

“Promoting engineering to women is particularly important given how few currently work as engineers, so it’s disappointing to see that so many employers are taking no real action to improve diversity. They need to take urgent steps to improve recruitment and retention of women, for example by promoting flexible and part time working, together with planned routes of progression that can accommodate career breaks.

“There also needs to be deeper engagement between employers and the education system to produce a talent pipeline that can sustain a thriving UK economy. Employers, educators, government and professional institutions like the IET need to focus on how best to inspire the next generation of engineers and technicians.”

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MEMBER NEWS

Nelson and Colne College prides itself on the high quality education and training that it provides.

In the case of work based learning, the college is placed 3rd in the country for 16-18 Apprenticeship success, a statistic earned through its determination to ensure excellence in work based skills development.

High-quality Apprenticeships, that offer genuine job opportunities, are a fantastic prospect for both young people and businesses.

Over recent years, the college has driven a rigorous engagement strategy with the business community; it works with employers, the majority being medium, small and micro sized, to ensure that Apprenticeships deliver a robust and sustainable solution to their work force skills needs.

The Principal and Chief Executive of Nelson and Colne College, Amanda Melton, represents the Lancashire Colleges on the Lancashire LEP Skills Board. The Board was established to achieve a closer match between employers’ skills needs and education and skills provision.

The College works closely with employers from the Engineering and Manufacturing sectors to deliver Apprenticeship, work place and vocational training and education that ensures the skills of tomorrow’s workforce matches the complex and diverse needs of the industry.

You can help!

We’re looking for companies who are willing to sponsor young trainee Engineers and apprentices through a number of avenues: • Short-term work placements for engineering students• Company open days, tours and visits• Mentoring for a young engineer• Donating your spare kit. We are looking in particular for a CNC Co-ordinate measuring machine, a CNC engraving machine, a CNC lathe with manual chuck and an optical projector.

If you can help, or if you would like any further information, please contact: Assistant Principal Alison Rushton by email at [email protected].

Your support is much appreciated.

Local college seeks support for Trainee Engineers & Apprentices

Key facts about Nelson and Colne College

• 3rd highest performing College in the country for 16-18 apprenticeship success (13th in the country for all age Apprenticeship success, from 221 GFE Colleges) • Numbers of Apprentices: o 171 16-18 year old apprentices o 221 19 – 24 year old apprentices o 222 25+ year old apprentices

• Highly responsive Apprenticeships and work-place training delivered to around 350 local and regional employers annually.

• College Principal, Amanda Melton, is Vice Chair of the Lancashire LEP Skills Board

The College has been awarded STEM Assured® status by the New Engineering Foundation (NEF) recognising excellence in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) with a particular focus on industry relevance and embedding STEM skills across a range of learning areas.

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ISLE OF MAN NEWS

The Department of Economic Development has announced that Simon Williams will take over the role as the Isle of Man’s new Director of Civil Aviation on October 1st 2014 replacing Hartley Elder who retired earlier this year.

Minister for Economic Development Laurence Skelly MHK commented:

‘I am delighted to welcome Simon Williams to the Department as our new Director of Civil Aviation. He brings significant breadth and depth of experience to the role following a very diverse and successful 25 year career in military and civil aviation.

‘I look forward to working with him to ensure that Isle of Man Aircraft Registry continues its impressive growth and to help maintain its status as the best in the world for quality and service.’

Simon Williams commented:

‘I am thrilled and honoured to have been selected for the post of Director of Civil Aviation and I’m looking forward to working with the team at the Aircraft Registry to serve our much valued clients and to supporting the

Island’s business aviation community.

‘I am inheriting a substantial legacy from my predecessors and would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have worked so hard to make the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry the unprecedented success it has become.

‘I have been visiting the Island regularly since 1991 so am all the more pleased that I now have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to settle and work in such a wonderful place.

‘With the registration of its 700th aircraft earlier this month, the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry has carried on its strong growth and I’m looking forward to playing my part in contributing to its continued success and that of the Island’s aviation services sector.’

Simon Williams has successfully held a number of challenging Senior Operational and Staff Appointments.

He has operated as an Aircraft Commander, Training Captain, Qualified Helicopter Tactics Instructor, and Instrument Rating Examiner and has flown a wide variety of aircraft

including Royal Air Force Search & Rescue Sea Kings, Special Operations Pumas and Civil Boeing 757s and Boeing 767s, most recently for British Airways.

During 5 years at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, he developed a very broad regulatory and safety portfolio which saw him chairing groups at national and international level. These groups were focussed on delivering tangible safety benefits whilst working closely with a diverse cross section of the aviation industry.

More recently, he increasingly devoted much of his time to working in ‘Safety Partnership’ with the business aviation community, latterly focussing on seeking to influence the development of proportionate and effective EASA Regulations, in particular for Non-Commercial Complex Motor Powered Aircraft.

New Director of Civil Aviation for the Isle of Man announced

Join the NWAA today

The NWAA is the flagship organisation representing some 750 member companies and stakeholders involved in the UK’s premier aerospace cluster and the model for industry-led organisations throughout Europe.

The tangible benefits provided by the NWAA are the secret to its success and flourishing membership.

Call us now: 01772 648800


ISLE OF MAN NEWS

The dust has settled on another Farnborough International Airshow and I’ve been following up on the significant numbers of enquiries and leads that the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster generated while exhibiting there as part of the North West Aerospace Alliance’s (NWAA) stand.

To add to the steady stream of visitors to the stand I also had to contend with sauna-like conditions due to the high temperatures and humidity!

Farnborough is where the world’s aviation and aerospace manufacturing industry gets together every 2 years to meet existing customers, potential new ones and to negotiate and to conclude deals that may have been in the pipeline for years. Early indications show a record year for numbers of trade visitors and orders finalised.

It was a great show for the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster too. We had visitors to the stand from all round the world and I was encouraged that more and more people knew about the Isle of Man in advance of meeting us.

We went down with two key objectives. To attract new business that complements our existing capabilities and to seek suppliers to fill the gaps in our local supply chain such as materials stockholding and heat and surface treatments.

There was also the opportunity to highlight our diverse economy including our thriving business aviation sector.

Unfortunately the main highlight of the week – the appearance of the new F35 fighter – was cancelled at the

last minute. However our PR guy had persuaded BBC North West Tonight to visit the show to cover how the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster had contributed to its manufacture.

Apart from getting myself on TV this appearance gave me the opportunity to highlight our position as a valued partner to the NWAA and of the increasingly strong ties that the Isle of Man has with the North West region.

Seeing the rows of planes that were being displayed to potential buyers I was reminded of how many of them contained components precision manufactured in the Isle of Man. So when you jet off on your holidays to the sun this summer you’ll more than likely be sitting in a plane that has manmade parts on it – Isle of Man-Made parts that is!

Farnborough 2014 was a hot one for the Isle of Manby Adrian Moore, Development Manager - Manufacturing and Space, Department of Economic Development

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MEMBER NEWS

Brussels Airlines has chosen Gael to provide an integrated quality and safety management solution, helping them to anticipate and manage risks before they lead to a serious event.

Based at Brussels Airport with a fleet of 44 aircraft and about 3500 employees, Brussels Airlines operates about 300 flights daily to more than 80 premium European, African and US airports. The Belgian airline is currently reorganising its Quality and Flight Safety departments into one Safety Services unit and chose a solution from Gael to manage all quality and safety processes within its entire operation.

From the outset, Brussels Airline had a number of requirements that had to be met. Central to this was the need to establish a pro-active Safety Management System (SMS) with the ability to identify emerging risks to the business, allowing action plans to be put in place to avoid an event occurring.

In addition to the requirement of

Brussels Airlines to Anticipate Emerging Risk with Gael’s Integrated Quality & Safety Management Solution

managing emerging risk, the full scope of the project outlined by Brussels Airlines included some areas where they wish to further improve current processes. These include:

• Promotion of a reporting culture by providing user friendly means of reporting at point of origin• Improvement in time management for all safety related investigations• Audit planning, scheduling, execution and action management• Integration with existing operational systems (scheduling, FDM, etc)• Hazard identification & risk management• Availability of latest revision of documents and data throughout the business resulting in reduced time spent chasing documentation

The solution from Gael to meet all these requirements is a combination of three products: Q-Pulse, Gael Risk and Performance Monitor. This range of products allows a maximum oversight of operations to drive

business improvement processes.

Adriann Charlet, Brussels Airlines’ Safety Service Manager, said: “By implementing this integrated quality and safety management system, we will have a complete view of quality, safety and risk management across our business. The detailed analysis capability provided will enable us to drive business improvement throughout our operations.”

“The biggest advantage for us lies in the ability to identify emerging risks to our business and manage them before they lead to an event. That anticipative element of the solution was the deciding factor in implementing Gael’s full solution.”

This project implementation demonstrates the full capability of Gael’s solutions when they are integrated across the quality and safety functions of an organisation.

The emergent risk management aspect ensures a pro-active approach to safety management.


MEMBER NEWS

The world’s newest Widebody airliner, the Airbus A350-900, has successfully completed a series of Route Proving trials, receiving an enthusiastic welcome at each of the 14 cities it has visited over the past three weeks.

At the technical Route Proving the aircraft must demonstrate its readiness for airline operations on a global scale. This last series of trials is required for Type Certification, which is expected in Q3 this year.

The A350 XWB completed its Route Proving after landing in Toulouse, France on August 13th (17:00 UTC) coming from Helsinki, Finland. The exercise took the flight test aircraft, MSN 005, across the globe on an impressive 20-day trip flying over the North Pole, each ocean and stopping at 14 major international airports world-wide.

Airbus A350 XWB completes its Route Proving World Tour

During its World Tour, the aircraft flew approximately 81,700 nm /151,300 km in some 180 flight hours, with all flights performing on schedule. The aircraft was operated by Airbus flight crews as well as Qatar flight crews on the route from Doha to Perth, Moscow and Helsinki. The Airworthiness Authority pilots from the European Aviation Safety Agency also participated and flew the aircraft on two legs.

A major highlight was the trip from Johannesburg Tambo International Airport, located at 5,558 feet (1,694m) above sea level, to Sydney, demonstrating the A350’s excellent performance at high altitude airports. The flights from Johannesburg to Sydney and Auckland to Santiago de Chile demonstrated also its capability to fly ultra-long-haul routes or Extended range Twin Operations (ETOPS).

“The aircraft has performed remarkably well confirming the high level of maturity that it has been demonstrating all the way during our development and certification tests. We are set for the Type Certification in the coming weeks, as planned”, said Fernando Alonso, Senior Vice President Flight & Integration Tests, and added: “I truly believe that the aircraft is fit to enter into service and perform to the expectations of our Customers.”

At each destination, the A350 XWB performed as expected and on schedule. Checks were made on standard maintenance as well as typical airport operations and compatibility. The automatic landing capability of the A350 XWB was also successfully demonstrated during a local flight performed at Johannesburg.


MEMBER NEWS

Cyber defence funding worth £2 million available to suppliersThe Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s Centre for Defence Enterprise is looking for ideas to automate cyber defence responses.

The automating cyber defence responses competition is looking for proof-of-concept research proposals for tools and techniques that support the planning and carrying out of automated responses to threats to Ministry of Defence (MOD) systems.

An automated cyber defence response includes collecting information, identifying the attack, analysing potential courses of action and then responding.

The total funding available for this competition is £2 million, to be split equally over 2 phases each worth £1 million.

The phase 1 competition was launched at a Centre for Defence

Enterprise (CDE) event in London on 9 September 2014.

Phase 2 funding will then be awarded on a per-project basis to the most successful outputs of phase 1 funded projects.

Jim Pennycook, Head of Operations, CDE says: “Our armed forces rely on cyberspace to conduct successful operations and the £2 million funding available for this competition demonstrates MOD’s commitment to cyber defence. Automated responses are an essential part of cyber defence processes and this funding will allow us to support a range of innovative proposals in this area.”

Further information on the automating cyber defence responses competition is available on our website.

The automating cyber defence responses competition closes on 23 October 2014.

Green cell fixturing takes flight When a leading aerospace company decided to invest in green button efficiency, it looked to two global companies to help realise the project. RINGSPANN UK LTD was chosen to deliver the hydraulic fixtures and Roemheld (UK) Ltd was selected to supply the zero point and hydraulic clamping components.

For many years, RINGSPANN UK LTD has been well-known for offering power transmission and workholding products to the aerospace, automotive, rail, medical, power generation and renewable industries, but this contract called upon its project management skills as a complete solution provider.

Andrew Bailey, Lead Designer for RINGSPANN UK LTD, said: “Although the client specified Roemheld at the outset, they were also our first choice because our companies have a long history of collaboration. We knew that Roemheld components would offer the quality, flexibility, longevity and technical support that this project demanded. Top end fixtures require top end components that will keep on performing and we know all the Roemheld components we used are guaranteed to a million cycles.“

As a result of months of hard work and collaboration, RINGSPANN UK LTD has delivered in excess of 100 bespoke features to date, with the project set to run until 2015. It is estimated that the introduction of the new fixtures alongside improvements to the production environment has resulted in a 70% reduction in set-up times and a 50% reduction in machining times.


MEMBER NEWS

Gael Ltd is pleased to announce that our flagship software solution, ‘Q-Pulse’, has been granted NATO unclassified clearance as an Auditing Software, Document Management Software and Risk Management Software.

NATO Security Policies, supporting directives and guidance documentation call for the implementation of security measures and use of security products to protect information processed, stored or transmitted in communication, information, other electronic systems, and supporting system services and resources. This is to protect against loss of confidentiality, integrity or availability.

Gael’s Q-Pulse software solution successfully gains NATO classification clearance

The NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO - Information Assurance Product Catalogue (NIAPC), established under Directive AC/322-D(2010)0042 (22-09-2010), provides NATO nations, and NATO civil and military bodies with a catalogue of Information Assurance (IA) products, Protection Profiles and Packages that are in use or available for procurement to meet operational requirements.

Gael is “delighted” to be listed on the NATO NIAPC and welcome a long relationship with the treaty organisation. Gael has also been granted ‘GREEN’ status under the evaluation scheme, meaning a full NATO evaluation with evaluation

documentation is available.

Gael’s Chief Executive Officer, Ashley Marron, commented on Gael’s classification. He said: “With an established customer base of over 450 aviation, aerospace and defence companies, we are excited at sharing our knowledge and expertise and look forward to helping many more organisations improve their auditing, document and risk management practices.”


MEMBER NEWS

North West filter manufacturer, Croft Filters, has achieved record sales for 2013/14, marking a 20 per cent year-on-year increase.

Established more than 28 years’ ago, the Warrington-based manufacturer posted record figures in nine out of 12 months between August 2013 and July 2014. December 2013 was the most successful period of the year, with a 150 per cent increase in sales versus the same month in 2012, while January and March also saw strong figures.

Croft’s growth has been supported by the business’ £500,000 investment in a state-of-the-art additive manufacturing (AM), or metal 3D printing, machine, and the subsequent launch of specialist company,

Croft Additive Manufacturing (CAM) in September 2013. As well as driving research and development, the innovative technology has helped Croft’s in-house team of experts deliver high-quality, never-before-possible components under tight deadlines, increasing the business’ profitability.

Neil Burns, director at Croft Filters and CAM, said: “Our investment in additive manufacturing was led by changing customer needs, and has enabled us to expand our offering, driving down costs and increasing operational efficiencies for the end-user.

Croft celebrates record breaking growth“We remain committed to developing this technology, and will work with our skilled engineers to support further growth and broaden our sector expertise for UK and overseas markets.”


SAVE THE DATE

Save the DateThe NWAA have a number of events coming up over the forthcoming months.

Oct

10

Make Your Ideas Happen - How to win NATEP FundingConcorde Centre, Manchester AirportT: 01774 648811E: [email protected]

Machining Faster, Machining SmarterNorth West venue TBCT: 01772 648822E: [email protected]

How to grow your business & howto fund that growthHaydock Park Racecourse, HaydockT: 01772 648822E: [email protected]

AirtecFrankfurt Exhibition CentreE: [email protected].

Digital Security in the Supply ChainPreston CollegeT: 01772 648822E: [email protected]

Advanced EngineeringNEC, BirminghamW: www.advancedengineeringuk.com

NWAA AGMBest Western Hotel, LeylandT: 01772 648822E: [email protected]

New Talent AwardsImperial War Museum, ManchesterT: 01772 648800E: [email protected]

Oct

16

Nov

5

Please check our website for the latest event listings, www.aerospace.co.uk

Nov

11-12

Oct

22

Oct

28

Dec

1

Feb

26

You could receive up to £150k per project to develop new concepts for intelligent software through the Growing Autonomous Mission Management Applications programme & receive assistance from universities and industry to take the product to market.

For further information please go to www.gammaprogramme.co.uk

or call Glen Bullen or Catherine Toon on 01772 648800

The NWAA is a membership led organisation that supports companies in the North West and across the UK to grow their business by creating networking opportunities and links into the aerospace sector.

The NWAA is always looking at new and innovative ways to increase its network in order to strengthen the opportunities it can offer to its members. Therefore, the NWAA launched a new member referral scheme in 2013.

We are pleased to announce that the since launching the scheme, two of our members have successfully referred new members; PM+M recommended Lloyds Bank and Hurst Green Plastics brought Bosch-Rexroth onboard with us.

Terms & ConditionsMembers must complete a referral form with potential new member details and send into NWAA. The new member must complete a membership application form naming the referring company. Each reward can only be claimed once the referral has joined and paid or Direct Debit set up. All referrals must be new members to the NWAA. *A maximum of 4 vouchers per year can be redeemed. ** Exhibition space includes your pop up banner and table. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Member Referral Scheme

Yourreferral

rewards...If you refer a business to us, when they join, the NWAA will reward you with one of the following;

new member referral:Free admission to an NWAA eventworth up to £35*

new member referrals: Exhibit at one of our events, worth up to £250**

new member referrals: Half page advertisement in NWAAQuarterly Magazine ‘Plane Talk’, worth over £500

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To refer a new member, please contact our Membership Team on 01772 648800

North West Aerospace AllianceUnits 9 & 10 South Preston Office Village, Cuerden Way, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6BL

North West Aerospace Alliance ™North West Aerospace Alliance, NWAA and ASCE are all Trade Marks.

Tel: + (44) 845 305 5615

www.aerospace.co.uk

@NWAerospace

@takeoffnw

plane talk autumn 2014 - Aerospace · 2 plane talk autumn 2014 I’m sure that many of you will...

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