Bombardier Shorts on flight path for green aircraft

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

By Margaret Canning

Bombardier Shorts in Belfast is to become a partner in a new research project designed to help produce a more environmentally friendly generation of aircraft, it has been announced.

The company is one of 16 firms across the UK selected to take part in the £103m programme to develop new lightweight wings for aircraft.

Shorts' participation involves an investment of £9m, for which funding of £2.25m from both Invest NI and the Technology Strategy Board is on offer.

The company said it would be concentrating on the design and manufacturing processes needed to produce a next generation composite wing, with the emphasis on reducing weight and aerodynamic drag.

Michael Ryan, vice president and general manager at Shorts, which has developed a specialist composites research centre at Dunmurry, said the firm took its environmental responsibilities seriously.

He said: "Participation in this programme will help us to further enhance our skills and capabilities in the design and manufacture of large composite structures, particularly wings, thereby helping us to compete successfully in the international market place," he said.

Tracy Meharg, Invest NI's managing director of innovation and capability development, said: "With a long term commitment to innovation and research, Bombardier has already established itself as a world leader in composites development.

"This latest investment in research and development will help to consolidate and build on this position and is indicative of the high value-added activity that will help increase the overall productivity and competitiveness of Northern Ireland."

The programme is led by Airbus, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, industry partners and economic development agencies.

The next generation composite wing project will develop methods for the design and production of wings, aimed mainly at the growing market for short range commercial aircraft.

The wings will be made of composite materials, which are lighter and more durable than metal and intended to reduce the operating costs and environmental impact of commercial aircraft by reducing fuel consumption.

Shorts is to focus on techniques to refine the composite wing design process and methods for raising the volume of production possible with aircraft structures, or aerostructures, made from composites.