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Post Office Network - Support for Airbus Wing Programme

The Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP,  Former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
Airbus UK Factory at Broughton, North Wales,  11 December 2006

I congratulate the Airbus UK -led consortium in working together to bring forward this new large, complex – and crucially – greener aircraft design project.

The ‘Integrated Wing’ programme bring together the best UK researchers with industry to develop the next generation of aircraft wings. Maintaining the UK’S reputation as a world leader in aerospace design and manufacture.

Innovation is the key to the aerospace industry’s, and the UK’s, future prosperity.
That’s exactly what the Integrated Wing project represents.

And British excellence in aerospace design, development and delivery is world renowned.

We have great strengths as this project demonstrates. It looks to the future of aircraft design and brings together our best from the drawing board to the factory floor.

By being smart and working as one – from wings to landing gear, fuel systems to electronics – we can lead.

Innovation, design and creativity like this are crucial is we are to win in the global economy.

I particularly welcome the environmental theme of this project . It puts Britain at the forefront of greener aerospace technology. More efficient, less emissions.

We are all aware of the concerns about the growth of air travel. How to balance the demand for travel against and the urgent need for global action to reduce carbon emissions.

That is what this project aims to deliver. Strengthening the economy, kinder to the environment. What is why we are backing it.

It is important that we continue to invest in projects like this. Because Britain is good at design and innovation. And we need to acknowledge and celebrate this.

The National Aerospace Technology Strategy provides an excellent basis for that.

As well as this project, I was delighted to launch the ASTRAEA programme at the Farnborough Airshow, and I know that other positive announcements will follow in the next few months.

I want to make another two points about this programme:

Firstly, it marks a new readiness by the government to fund large projects. This allows us to be more ambitious and to develop changes in technology.

This is, of course, highly relevant to the aerospace industry. Where new aircraft such as the A350 XWB, launched on 1 December, incorporate new technologies from previous models.

Secondly, the programme represents a strengthening collaboration between DTI and the Regions in supporting technology development.

We face fierce competition globally as countries seek to develop their aerospace industries to meet the rising demand for aircraft.

Good collaboration between industry, national and regional government and academics must be the way forward.

The Integrated Wing programme as a model of that.

That’s why today’s launch is so important.

Note: Announcement was made alongside Louis Gallois, President and CEO of Airbus and Rhodri Morgan, First Secretary, Welsh Assembly.