GKN Aerospace ships 750th Tornado spares assembly

GKN Aerospace has delivered its 750th Tornado assembly to the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) as part of the company's maintenance contract with BAE Systems, awarded in 2006 and continuing until at least 2016. This work package forms one element in the UK Ministry of Defence/BAE Systems ATTAC (Availability Transformation: Tornado Aircraft) agreement, which is aimed at providing effective, through life support for the GR4 aircraft.

Work on this maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) package is being carried out by the GKN Aerospace maintenance operation based at Cowes on the Isle of Wight, UK. Under the contract, GKN Aerospace is responsible for providing a range of Tornado aircraft structures including rudders and ammunition boxes.

Paul Young, General Manager for Customer Support and MRO comments: "Over recent years spares deliveries for the Tornado have increased significantly in order to provide effective support for the aircraft in theatre in Afghanistan and Libya. This has greatly increased the workload on our maintenance team at Cowes but by working extended hours and bringing in additional help from around the facility our output has increased by 25%. We are extremely proud of the dedication and commitment of our team to playing our part in ensuring this aircraft is available to our forces whenever and wherever it is needed."

The Cowes-based maintenance operation overhauls structure from a wide variety of aircraft including the C-130 military transporter, the Dash 8 and Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft, and the massive Airbus A380 double-deck, jet airliner.
GKN Aerospace worldwide has a growing maintenance, repair and overhaul operation and this area of the business is a focus for future growth, with the company working on developments that will streamline, automate and speed future aircraft MRO procedures.