13 Aug 2008
Secretary of State for Scotland and local MP Des Browne has praised the skill and dedication of Ayrshire aircraft design workers on a visit to a successful plant following a major contract win.
Des Browne was visiting Spirit AeroSystems at Prestwick, which recently announced a contract worth $2bn to design and produce a major wing structure for the Airbus A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) programme, to be built at the Ayrshire site. Spirit has also announced an extension of its existing contract with Airbus - worth a further $1.7bn - to supply leading and trailing edges and other wing structures on a range of Airbus aircraft assembled in the UK which will run from 2011 to 2015.
The Scottish Secretary wrote to Spirit to offer his congratulations after the contract win and reiterated his support for the organisation and its success during the visit, when he met staff and toured the site to be briefed on the design of wing structures.
Des Browne said:
"I've been very impressed by what I've seen here at Spirit today. There is a long and proud tradition of aeronautical engineering in Scotland going back to the inter-war years and it's good to see this tradition being maintained and built on, here in Ayrshire.
"Spirit is an excellent example of a company with a significant base in Scotland, but working within a global industry, which means it can be very confident about its future prospects, especially after the announcement of these new contracts. They will bring major investment - and not just in respect of the new A350 project, but also in research and development that will put Spirit's Scottish operation in a good position to capitalise on similar contracts for many years to come.
"This is a real endorsement of more than 800 highly skilled and dedicated employees here, and it is a real boost for the local economy and for Scotland."
Neil McManus, Spirit AeroSystems Managing Director said:
"We were delighted to welcome Des Browne to the Spirit AeroSystems facility. This visit gave us a great opportunity to share the company's plans, particularly in the area of composite development, which was instrumental in Spirit winning the A350 XWB contract. With Spirit AeroSystems accounting for around a quarter of the aerospace industry in Scotland, the support of the Scotland Office is crucial for the business and for Scotland."
Scott McLarty, Operations Director added:
"It was a privilege to welcome Des Browne to the site at this very exciting time for the business. With the ongoing work with Airbus, Boeing and Hawker Beechcraft, and growth in the business in the form of the recent Airbus XWB contract to design and build a major wing structure, there is a real feel of excitement and enthusiasm within the workforce".
Notes to editors
· Spirit AeroSystems is the world's largest independent aerostructures supplier to commercial aircraft manufacturers, with customers including Airbus, Boeing and Hawker Beechcraft. The company was established in 2005 and has its headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. Its European division is based in Prestwick and Samlesbury, England.
Media contact:
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Nathaniel Mumford, 0207 270 6875 / 07771 938878