New £19m project led by Airbus to develop latest wing design methods using latest computer tech

Jesse Norman, Minister for Industry and Energy has today announced a new £19.2 million project led by Airbus, with over £9 million of funding from government,  to develop new methods for aircraft wing design by harnessing the power of the latest computing technology.

More than 33,000 new aircraft are expected to be required in the next 15-20 years, replacing existing in-service models and also to expand airlines’ fleets as the number of air travellers increases.

The project, called Advanced Product Concept Analysis Environment – or APROCONE – has been made possible thanks to joint industry and UK government investment under the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI).

The APROCONE project will develop a highly productive, collaborative design environment and associated methodologies that will mean wings and engines can be designed more innovatively and quickly to meet future market and environmental needs.

Industry Minister Jesse Norman said;

“Aerospace is a great UK success story. We are number one in Europe and world leaders in innovation, design and manufacturing plants and much of this great work is done right here in the South West.

“Today’s announcement shows how government and industry can work together and this government is committed to developing a comprehensive industrial strategy that will help our aero sector rise to even greater heights.”

Airbus Chief Operating Officer Tom Williams said;

“Rapidly developing information systems technologies makes it possible for Airbus to develop a completely new way of designing wings.

“The funding for this project opens the door to increased collaboration and an opportunity to push the boundaries of innovation.”

The project will be led by a team from Airbus in Filton, Bristol, which is a global centre of excellence for wing design, development and testing. Key partners include engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce.

“To meet future market demands, and to fully leverage the range of new novel technologies within the aerospace industry, requires the means to rapidly and reliably integrate these technologies into viable product solutions. APROCONE’s advanced design environment will support the conceptual definition and evaluation of complex products, enabling significant improvements to be achieved within the high value design process. It is a fundamental step towards delivering the next generation of aviation products.” said Gary Elliott, Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Technology Institute.

The £3.9bn Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) is a collaboration between government and industry, facilitating research and development investments to ensure UK retains a world-leading aerospace sector.