Pictured above: Left to
right: Mark Day - Eaton
Aerospace, James Males - Timet UK, Mike Smith - Bromford
Industries, Bridget Day -
Midlands Aerospace Alliance,
Joe Eardly - Goodrich Actuation
Systems, Mark Kirk - GE
Aviation, David Danger - HS Marston Aerospace
One of the Midlands' finest examples of supply chain
collaboration and advanced engineering capability was on display
yesterday, as an Emirates Airbus A380 made its historic first
flight to the region in honour of Birmingham International
Airport's 70th anniversary.
More than 20 Midlands-based firms operate within the supply
chain of the Emirates Airbus A380- which features GP7200 engines* -
and contribute parts, including: High lift actuation systems for
wings, titanium parts of the fuselage and engine bearings and oil
coolers.
Six midlands firms who contributed parts to the Airbus A380 were
in attendance as the aircraft landed, including: Birmingham's Timet
UK and Bromford Industries (also of Leicester), Wolverhampton-based
Goodrich Actuation Systems, GE Aviation and HS Marston Aerospace,
and Eaton Aerospace of Redditch.
Bridget Day, innovation and technology manager at the Midlands
Aerospace Alliance - an organisation which aims to create wealth
and opportunities for aerospace organisations working within the
region, said: "There are around 250 Midlands companies at the core
of the aerospace industry (700 in total), and the roots of this
established and highly experienced supply chain extend deep into
our advanced engineering capability - which helps fuel the region's
economy.
"Today's arrival of the A380 at Birmingham International Airport
is testament to the world-class technical capabilities of the of
the 21 Midlands Aerospace Alliance members that helped to make it
possible."
Accommodating up to 525 passengers, the double-decker,
four-engine Airbus A380 made its first commercial flight in October
2007 and was introduced to the Emirates fleet just over a year ago.
Now operating five aircraft in service with a further 53 on order
with Airbus, passengers in First Class of an Emirates A380s can
relax in one of 14 flat-bed, massage-equipped Private Suites as
well as the two Onboard Shower Spas, which include heated flooring,
and Timeless Spa shower kits.
This was the first commercial flight for an A380 outside of
London Heathrow in the UK and following its participation in
Birmingham International Airport's 70th anniversary, which also saw
the opening of the new Pier, the aircraft returned to Dubai.
The 700 Midlands firms that operate in the aerospace cluster are
founded on a core technological competency defined as systems that
power and control aircraft. These firms currently employ more than
45,000 people and the regional cluster accounts for almost 25 per
cent of the UK aerospace industry by jobs and value.