started work for Airbus UK at their Filton site in Bristol on the 4th January 2005, for an initial period of 18 months, rising to a possible 2 years, or even longer... I am working as a CNC Programmer / Manufacturing Systems Development Engineer on the A400M Military Aircraft Project (replacement for the Hercules) producing the main wing assemblies. There is a lot or re-training involved for myself concerning this project, with training in Catia V5, Delmia Simulation, and Cenit FASTip Layerdrill. In addition to all of this extra training there will be some additional travelling to develop the project. This will include visits to Chester (Airbus UK - Broughton), Hamburg (Airbus Deutschland), Macclesfield (Amtri Machines), and Seattle (Electro Impact Machines). The project is best described as leading edge... and trailing edge... with the wings being made up of Aluminium Ribs, Composite & Titanium Spars, and composite Skins. The programming, development, and production will be taking place in Building / Hangar 07N at Airbus UK in Filton, Bristol. I will add more details and photograph's in the near future... if allowed to do so! I am also hoping to get some photo's of the final Concorde that has been marooned there by British Airways.

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Foreword

Airbus was established in 1970 as a European consortium of French, German and later, Spanish and UK companies, as it became clear that only by co-operating would European aircraft manufacturers be able to compete effectively with the U.S. giants. By overcoming national divides, sharing development costs, collaborating in the interests of a greater market share, and even agreeing a common set of measurements and a common language, Airbus changed the face of the business, and brought airlines, passengers and crews the benefits of real competition.

In 2001, thirty years after its creation, Airbus formally became a single integrated company, thus passing another major milestone in its history of achievements. The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), (resulting from the merger between Aerospatiale Matra SA of France, Daimler Chrysler Aerospace AG of Germany and Construcciones Aeronauticas SA of Spain), and BAE SYSTEMS of the UK, transferred all of their Airbus-related assets to the newly incorporated company and, in exchange, became shareholders in Airbus with 80 per cent and 20 per cent respectively of the new stock.

Airbus operations, which include engineering and manufacturing, are the backbone of all Airbus technical and industrial activities. The company today has more than 150 sites throughout the world, including 16 development and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the U.K. and Spain, where Airbus aircraft are designed, built, assembled and tested. Both engineering and manufacturing are trans-national processes that draw on the skills and expertise of each particular site. Airbus also operates several subsidiaries, six regional offices, three training centres, five spare centres and 120 resident customer services offices. In addition to its design and manufacturing sites, Airbus has an international network of some 1,500 suppliers in more than 30 countries, including 800 suppliers in the United States.
 

Programmes and Manufacturing Projects

• Bristol 167 Brabazon
• Bristol 171 Sycamore
• Bristol 173
• Bristol 191
• Bristol 192 Belvedere
• Bristol 221
• Concorde
• Airbus A300
• Airbus A320
• Airbus A340
• Airbus A380
• A400M

Concorde's final flight over the Clifton suspension bridge to it's home at Airbus UK - Filton

Capabilities

A key ability if the Airbus UK site in Filton is that it has access to it's own airfield, it was opened in 1910, and the Bristol Filton Aerodrome has been the birthplace of many important and exciting aviation projects such as the Bristol Freighter, Bristol Fighter, the Britannia and of course Concorde.
Today the Airfield is used extensively by general aviation and corporate traffic. Additionally the Airfield supports the BAE SYSTEMS Aviation services business in the maintenance and support of aircraft from the European Airbus family. The main runway (09/27) is 2450m (8038ft) long and is equipped with ILS at both ends which, together with other approach aids, ensures operation in all but the very worst weather conditions.

A400M

In 1994, the British Government announced that it would purchase 25 second-generation Hercules C-130J aircraft as an initial step to replace its ageing Hercules fleet. It also announced that the UK would rejoin the A400M programme, then known as the Future Large Aircraft (FLA), and seek proposals for its Future Transport Aircraft (FTA) requirement. The Strategic Defence Review confirmed the need for FTA, and also identified the need for a short-term strategic airlift capability.

The aircraft itself is a completely new design but draws on the experience of several existing European transport aircraft both military and commercial and incorporating such features as advanced turboprop engines, multi-bladed propellers, and carbon fibre primary structures. In addition the aircraft will include the advanced technology fly-by-wire system already developed, tested and proven in the Airbus Industrie range of commercial airliners.

When first of the 25 A400Ms enter service towards the end of this decade, it will replace the RAF's fleet of 26 Hercules C1 and C3 transport aircraft and will greatly increase the Service's airlift capability. Each A400M has the load carrying capacity of approximately 1.5 Hercules aircraft whilst retaining its predecessor's ability to operate from short, unprepared, austere airstrips. The aircraft will also have the flexibility to be converted into air-to-air refueling role.

The RAF became the launch customer for the A400M, but the order is dependant on other European nations, such as France, Germany, Spain and Italy placing enough orders for the aircraft to make the programme commercially viable. Total value of the order is estimated at £3.5 billion. More information about the aircraft is available by clicking here.

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