It's a Joy to Fly MRA4 Shows What It Can Do
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Ahead of the rest International skills Typhoon helmet most A global outlook for advanced of its kind exchange apprentices See page 06 See page 15 News for BAE Systems Military Air Solutions people· September 2009 MAS It's a joy to fly MRA4 begins talks The decisions on potential job cuts and shows what it can do a site closure in Military Air Solutions reflect a business that is tackling change. Following the announcement on 15 September, consultation has begun between the senior ma nagement, the trade unions and employee representatives to mitigate the potential job losses at our Woodford, Warton, Samlesbury and Farnborough sites. Kevin Taylor, Managing Director, said: "Going forward, a key driver for me will be how we look after those people who either leave the business or stay on. "I believe we have Above: the first production MRA4, with a wingspan longer than the Wright brothers' first manned flight, lifts off effortlessly from Woodford. Chief Test Pilot Bill Ovel described it as "a joy to fly" taken the right meas ures, in consultation with others, to ensure Effective First production MRA4 prograrrune has been advanced and capable "T IS TO over the coming months and our employees are through some difficulttimes, aircraft, and to run a design years, We will continue to do supported during this The first production MRA4 aircraft impresses and many people doubted and development pro EVERYONE'S everything we can to deliver difficult time." took off from Woodford on on maiden flight this day would ever come. gramme concurrent with CREDIT THAT a much-needed advanced He continued: "It is 10 September for a success "Over the last couple of production activities has WE REACH THIS capability to the RAF" with regret we ma ke ful maiden flight, with many they have achieved, The years, through the hard work provided major challenges. MILESTONE WITH Group Captain George this announcement. of the site's employees RAF can look forward with and dedication of all those "Ultimately though, it's Martin, MRA4 Operations However, we have to proudly looking on. confidence to the imminent involved, we've built confi clear our engineers have AN AIRCRAFT Manager, said: "It's a ensure we are the right At 16:45, PA04 departed for arrival of an excellent dence in our ability to deliver developed a superb aircraft THAT OFFERS tremendously exciting day size and shape to an 82-minute sortie, during weapons system and a wor this aircraft. that has been brought to THE RAF HUGE for all concerned in the remain competitive which the aircraft performed thy successor to the MR2." "It's been a tremendous reality by a great set of POTENTIAL' design, development, manu and meet our manoeuvres to test aircraft Steve Timrns, Managing achievement by the entire people on production. facture and testing of the customers' require Group Captain George Martin, "Many BAE Systems sites handling and system opera Director of the MRA4 team to hit this important MRA4 Opelations Manager MRA4. me nts in the future. tion before landing at programme, said: "It 's milestone, and shows the have played their part while "The challenges faced on "We have had to Norwich Airport where its wonderful to see this aircraft MRA4 is on track. the excellent support of the the prograrrune have been ma ke tough decisions RAF livery will be applied. take to the skies. The "This is a hugely customer within our joint teams has been essential. significant and required con across a number of After landing, Chief Thst "This day has been partic siderable resourcefulness areas ofthe business. Pilot Bill Ovel said: "The air ularly rewarding given the and determination over a Several factors craft performed very well challenges the team have number of years by all those have driven this and was a joy to fly. faced over the last few years. directly involved, announcement. "This was an impressive We can take pride in what "It is to everyone's credit "These include maiden flight andall of those we have achieved today, but that we reach this milestone MRA4 production involved in the development it's important we remain with an aircraft that offersthe coming to an end, the and manufacture of PA04 focused, as there are many Airbus contract at can be very proud of what Above: Woodford employees turn out to witness the maiden flight and fly past more milestones to meet Continued on page 08 Samlesbury ending, and work on Tornado, Hawk and Harrier declining as elements of these programmes Student Pippa stuns Brough with £114,000 savings draw to a close." Kevin stressed that Effective for Mum and Dad. the Brough team, it also working on a rig which more effectively and the we need to ma intain Well, if you're Pippa won her Student of the mi mics the forces acting on more efficient monitoring focus on delivering our We all know the stereo- Horton, aged 19 from Year title in The Yea r in an aircraft. and planning introduced commitments and typical perception of No rth Ferriby, you can Industry's Contribution to She created and by Pippa translated into highlighted the student life - late nights, forget a 11 that. the Business Awards - implemented a logistics savings of £114,000. importance of long lie-ins, unwashed Pippa ca me to which showcase exception- syste m to ma nage the Pippa said: "I have had mitigation through job clothes and no-go BAE Syste ms to join the al achievements of hydraulic actuators on the most incredible experi- opportunities connect bedrooms. Military Air Solutions tea m students on paid 12-month the rig. ence at BAE Systems, ed with the availability And, if they do go away, at Brough during her ga p- work placements. This ma de the actuator working with intelligent, contracts that we on a gap-year for exa mple, year, got stuck in - and How did she do it? installation process more hardworking and exceed- have in place with it's long periods of silence in just 12 months saved Pippa's work at Brough flexible and better able to ingly generous people. the UK MOD. when things are going well, the Company a massive was extensive - but it was in cope with changes in "I have really enjoyed my panic calls home for mo ney £114,000. the Structural and Dynamic delivery schedules. year in industry and I'm now Editorial Comment - when they are not - and In so dOing it not only won Test Department, where As a result, employee looking forward to pursuing tu rn to page 02 endless nights of worry her a place in the hearts of she made the most impact, resources could be used a career in engineering." Above: Pippa Horton © BAE Systems plc 2009. 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Designed and produced by Connect Communications Ltd. lNWW.connectcommunications.co.uk BAE SYSTEMS FRONTUNE 02 September2009 MILITARY AIR SOLUTIONS As the Salam Typhoons are Working as an integral part of delivered to the team delivering effective Saudi Arabia air power, our aim is to give real from Warton advantage to the men and women (right), MAS has of our customers' armed forces. created a special Trusted to deliver - always. team to deal with the new challenges raised by its growing export activities Chartinga Comment> way through This issue of Frontline hits your desks following September's job losses announcement. It is with huge regret that I have had to announce job losses within the international Military Air Solutions business. My thoughts are with all those who will have to face the challenges, both personal and professional, that this will bring. We will work with the trade unions and employee representatives to do whatever we can to mitigate these job losses and to work through the process of maze of rules implementing them in a sensitive and professional way. I know that, for many, it will be particularly hard to understand why these job cuts are necessary when we are still seeking to win new business. Team, effective we decided to develop a tionship with the British Sadly, this is an inevitable reflection of some of our small team to deal with the Embassy in Washington programmes coming to an end. Our overall business The Salam contract to issues raised by Salam." D.C. - and with the US State remains strong and I am determined to ensure it supply 72 TYPhoon aircraft This "virtual" team is com Department which continues to do so. to Saudi Arabia has brought prised of representatives administers the ITAR." Alongside the difficult announcement we have made new challenges for from the Project Karen added: "Working this month, we must not lose Sight of the successes that BAE Systems to comply Management, CommercIal, closely with the Embassy the business continues to deliver. with national and interna Legal, Procurement and and the US State The initial flight of the first production MRA4 this tional export licensing Engineering functions. It Department means we can month is a tremendous requirements. also includes members of quickly find out what the achievement. It is an Contracting routes the traditional Import/Export Company needs to do to incredibly capable machine through Eurofighter and the teams, and is led by John make sure it stays compliant.