www.aerospacewalesforum.com Aerospace Wales Forum

Europe and in particular the UK continues to be a major player in aerospace and defence. Wales provides a significant contribution to the UK Aerospace sector. 25,000 people work in the sector in Wales and generate revenue of £4bn per year.

Many leading companies have a presence in Wales including Airbus, EADS DS who design security systems, lead system integration solutions, BAE Systems who have a Hawk Synthetic Training Facility HSTF (Hawk flight training simulators), British Airways MRO facilities, Qinetiq UAV Centre, Raytheon electronic systems and software, General Dynamics systems integration, General Electric CFM/RB2 engine maintenance, Selex UAV Flight Centre, Hawker Beechcraft Hawker 125 Beechjet 400A and Hawker 400XP service centre, Nordam engine nacelles and flight control surfaces repair and overhaul, Doncasters forgings and rolled rings for engines and Magellan Aerospace aircraft structural components and assemblies.

Airbus wings are made at Broughton in North Wales and there is a concentration of military and civil MRO centred on Cardiff Airport. Prospects for Airbus UK's Broughton plant look to be assured with future Airbus aircraft. With the greater use of composites on aircraft, Wales is investing in this key technology through participation in the Next Generation Composite Wing research programme and the development of key industrial research and training facilities with companies such as Airbus, TWI non-destructive testing and Cytec high-performance prepregs and composites, high-temperature sealants, thermoplastics and resin transfer moulding materials.

MRO activities include 3 divisions of British Airways (BA Maintenance, Avionics Engineering, Aircraft Interiors Engineering) General Electric Aircraft Engine Services, Nordam, Hawker Beechcraft, NWMAS, Babcock International, TES and DSG (Defence Support Group). Facilities exist at a range of locations including Broughton, Cardiff Airport and RAF Valley. The Welsh Assembly Government currently has a major development project covering the future exploitation of the ex-DARA facility at St Athan. Discussions are underway with a range of MRO and manufacturing organisations as well as the site being recently selected as the home

of the new Defence Training College, a brand new facility for advanced technical training for armed services UK.

British Airways Avionic Engineering offer EASA part 145 avionics repair. Aircraft interiors certification services are offered at the Interiors Engineering. Nacelle repair and overhaul and thrust reverser repair and overhaul at Nordam.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs

In the west of Wales, ParcAberporth has established itself as a centre of excellence for the testing and development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Selex, Qinetiq and Thales have now taken up space at the facility which is expected to be a key testing location for new programmes such as the UK's technology demonstrator ASTRAE-A (Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation Assessment). The Welsh Assembly Government has invested over £3m in the demonstrator which is a major element of the UK National Aerospace Technology Strategy.

Universities with their wide-ranging, world class research activities, and colleges in Wales with an aerospace related offering are linking together to provide a combined offering of engineering expertise and training. MRO related training is delivered by the International Centre for Aerospace Training and Lufthansa Resource Technical Training.

A Technium Network established to provide additional R&D and business incubation capacity in areas such as Software, Optoelectronics and Performance Engineering supplements the academic resources.

The Forum in partnership with the UK's trade body, the SBAC, provides a focal point for all elements of the UK's Aerospace Innovation and Growth programme.

Aerospace supply chain initiative SC21 supply chain.

The future development of the industry's supply chain is seen as vital to maintaining the UK's leading role in aerospace and the implementation plan for SC21 (Supply Chain for the 21 st Century) is currently being developed. This builds on a number of well-established Forum activities designed to improve the competitiveness and marketability of member companies.

The Forum and its members regularly exhibit at major aerospace events including Farnborough International and Le Bourget, Paris. Cardiff also plays host each year to Aerolink Wales, a combined meet-the-buyer event, conference and exhibition.

The Forum, its members and the Welsh Assembly Government's dedicated aerospace team are working closely together to ensure that Wales will continue to punch above its weight in the world's aerospace markets and take advantage of the growth opportunities in aviation, space and defence.

Aerospace Wales

There has been a huge investment over the last ten years in building the infrastructure and skills base to support tomorrow's aerospace industry.

For those of you who do not know much about the country then you should come and visit us, both for business and pleasure. Cardiff, the fastest growing capital city in Europe, is only two hours away from London by road or rail, and has its own direct air links with other cities in the UK and Europe. The region boasts one of the largest concentrations of aircrft maintenance, repair and overhaul in the UK and nearby Newport is home to the recently opened EADS Innovation Works. The universities in the neighbouring cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport all make substantial contributions to the industry's pool of talent and research activities.

The other major aerospace cluster in Wales is centred on the Airbus wing plant at Broughton, some 125 miles/200km north of Cardiff, served by Liverpool and Manchester airports less than an hour's drive away, and good road and rail links with London. North Wales also hosts a world class opto-electronics cluster and the Centre for Advanced Software Technology at Bangor.

With some 25000 people employed in the sector Wales punches well above its weight for a country whose population is less than three million. This is due in no small part to the high priority placed on the sector by the Welsh Assembly and the close working relationship that has been forged between industry and government. The Forum, established in 2002 to represent the industry and encourage future development, shares the brand "Aerospace Wales" with the Assembly's own dedicated aerospace team.

Over the last two years a joint industry/government strategy for the sector has been developed. This has not been done in isolation but has involved extensive consultation with stakeholders within Wales and beyond. We work very closely with our colleagues in the other regions of the UK and there are particularly strong links with our close neighbours in the South West and North West regions of England. Although Wales has its own distinct heritage and culture we are proud to be part of Team UK and have close working relationships with SBAC, the UK's national trade association, and UKTI, the UK Government's trade and investment arm. We support SBAC's national framework for supply chain excellence, SC21 and the Assembly has made significant financial investment in a number of UK aerospace technology programmes.

Looking to the future there is a concerted campaign to encourage further aerospace

investment in Wales. The Assembly's Aerospace Wales Team has a number of key sites with aerospace development potential including Hawarden Park, adjacent to the Airbus plant at Broughton, and Aerospace Wales St. Athan. The latter has just been chosen by the UK Ministry of Defence as the site for the new triservice technical training facility and offers the attractions of an 1825 metre runway, extensive hangar and office facilities and a good local skills base.

How can you become a member of the Aerospace Wales Forum?

If you feel your company would benefit by becoming a member of Aerospace Wales Forum, or you would like to know more about our organisation visit our website at:

http://www.aerospacewalesforum.com

The website is regularly updated and offers a wide range of information from latest industry news to updates on all forthcoming aerospace events.

You will also find information on our membership, associates and global contacts as well as information on training and skill providers in Wales.

If you are happy with our terms and conditions and would like to become a member of Aerospace Wales Forum simply email: enquiries@aerospacewales.aero with your company details and we will arrange for a membership pack to be sent out to you.

As the voice of the Aerospace Industry, we can offer you a number of business opportunities.

Get in touch with us or attend one of our events to discover what we can offer you.

Aerospace Wales Forum

John Whalley CEO

Paul Lindsay Operations Director

Suite A5

Waterton Technology Centre

Waterton Industrial Estate

Bridgend

CF31 3WT

Tel: 01656 655210

Fax: 01656 655217