by Chris Chaplow

Of the 800 million Euro 2005 Andalucia Aerospace Companies turnover 312m Euro is dedicated to Airbus Projects, 367 million Euro to EADS-CASA Projects, and 115 million to the remainder.

The main projects currently underway are the FAL (Final assembly line) for EADS-CASA at San Pablo (Airport) outside Seville for the Assembly of the C-212, C-235, and C-295 Military aeroplanes.

The future project that the whole of the Andalucian Aerospace Industry is excited about is the Airbus A400M Military Transport plane. This is the twin engine turbo prop (with 8 fins) capable of carrying 32 tonnes or 120 personnel at 700km/hr for 4.100 km without refuelling. It is also the first Airbus plane to be made with Carbon Fibre (not Metal) wings.

The FAL is currently under construction by EADS-CASA at San Pablo. The Tail Fins are being made by EADS-CASA in Tablada, the wings in Filton UK, Fuselage sections in Bremen Germany. Airbus Military have now sold 100 planes at a list price of 100m Euros each to Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Luxembourg, Turkey, Belgium, South Africa, Malaysia. The first plane should roll out of the hanger at the end of 2007 for trails. By the end of 2008 productions should be up to 3 units a month and the first delivery to the French Air Force in September 2009. Without doubt when this plane first takes to the air at the end of 2007 the spotlight will be on Seville.

Additional offshoot for this will be the new 90m Euro A400M flight training centre adjacent to the EADS-CASA assembly complex . This will include a flight simulator for pilots, training for mechanical teams, fleet managers and all training associated with the aeroplane.

There are companies such as SK10 in Puerto Real and Puerto de Santa Maria who employ 220 and can be called Tier 1 companies, in that they sell directly to the aeroplane manufactures. SK10 mounts pieces and structures for the A300 to A380 range of Airbus and C235 and C295. Including the belly-fairing substructure for the ill fated A380.

SK10 has a subsidiary company SK3000 which will be based in Aeropolis.

Most of the companies in Andalucia are know as the Tier 2 and Tier 3 ‘auxiliary’ supporting companies. Their turnover has also grown from 67million Euro in 2001 to 171million Euro in 2005. This activity is generally confined to Mechanical activities such as assembly and composite materials fabrication.

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