09 Jul 2007 | Ref. 218/2007
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Two aircraft in the new AirSpace museum at Duxford
Duxford, United Kingdom. - Britain’s heritage as a pioneer and innovator in aviation goes on spectacular display in the Imperial War Museum’s new BAE Systems-supported £25m AirSpace exhibition, which is officially opened at Duxford airfield, on Wednesday, 11 July.
Yet as the opening of this major exhibition nears, Nigel Whitehead, Group Managing Director of BAE Systems Military Air Solutions, has warned that the country is in danger of losing its skills-base in this high-end industrial sector, with world-class aircraft and aerospace engineers of the future being in short supply unless the serious shortage of engineers in this country is solved.
BAE Systems is the largest employer of apprentices in the UK with over 1,000 in training at any point in time. Its Military Air Solutions business aims to recruit over 1,000 people, primarily into engineering roles, by year end. However the lack of engineers remains a problem.
“In many respects, the history of aviation development in the United Kingdom is the history of BAE Systems and its predecessor companies, “ states Nigel Whitehead. “Today, that pioneering spirit remains and we will continue to drive our aerospace and defence developments in years to come, providing we can address the risk of a significant future shortage of engineers in the UK.”
“In the last ten years we’ve only managed to produce about 24,000 engineering graduates a year, while in China and India there are half a million new engineers every year, ” he adds.
Our support for AirSpace is aimed at inspiring young people to realise the potential of careers in aerospace engineering. “We need creative, problem-solving engineers immersed in new technologies to help our country compete internationally and that is precisely why BAE Systems has made a significant investment in AirSpace,” says Whitehead.
Richard Ashton, Director of the Imperial War Museum Duxford, where AirSpace is located, said that a third of British companies surveyed by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) are finding new product development is being limited by a lack of engineers.
“The RAE has called for a 50 per cent increase in funding for engineering students” Ashton said. “We absolutely support that commitment to education and AirSpace has an important role to play in inspiring future engineering, design, technology and aviation students of the future. It’s one of the reasons we offer free entry for children and we expect to entertain and educate more than 175,000 children in AirSpace every year.”
BAE Systems, the largest corporate supporter of AirSpace, is the direct descendent of such iconic names in British aviation history as AVRO, English Electric, De Havilland, Bristol, Hawker Siddeley and Scottish Aviation.
More than 30 aircraft from those companies and others are on display in the 12,000 sq m AirSpace exhibition, including the Spitfire, Lancaster and Swordfish from World War II, jet combat aircraft such as the Vulcan, Lightning, Harrier and Tornado, and the Concorde supersonic airliner.
AirSpace will be officially opened by the Duke of Kent, with the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, James Purnell, also attending.
About BAE Systems:
BAE Systems is a global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £13.7 billion ($US25.4 billion) in 2006.
For further information please contact:
Andy Bunce, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1772 852714 Mob: +44 (0)7801 716448
andy.bunce@baesystems.com
Lisa Hillary-Tee, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384934 Mob: +44 (0)7801 718994
lisa.hillary-tee@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384710 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com
