By Aviation Editor Doug Maclean
The aerospace industry is a very significant part of modern engineering in Scotland. It is estimated that the annual turnover of the industry is more than £2.5 billion and employing more than 5,000 people. 50% of them are in the near vicinity of Prestwick airport. This is part of the reason that the Scottish Government saved the airport from closing in 2014.
Although Spirit Aerosystems at Prestwick does not construct full aeroplanes it is one of the leading companies in the Scottish aerospace business. They manufacture complex sections of aircraft including new composite material for both the Boeing and Airbus companies. The company has invested tens of millions of pounds in bringing new projects to Scotland. A £22 million spoiler manufacturing project included £2.1 million funding from Scottish Enterprise while a grant of £4.8 million was awarded to Spirit’s £28 million Aerospace Innovation Centre at Prestwick.
Earlier today we broke the news that the Prestwick employment giant Spirit Aerosystems was being merged with the Boeing aircraft company. In the announcement by Spirit they had said that they would “divest” the company of its operation at Prestwick. That set alarm bells ringing with local employees at Spirit and also with local politicians. MSP Siobhian Brown said that there were several hundred Spirit employees in her constituency and arranged an urgent meeting to seek clarification on the future of the Prestwick operation.
Ms Brown said this afternoon:
“Due to today’s announcement, I met with Scott McLarty, Senior Vice President of Spirit Aerospace. I had reassuring talks that this will not impact local jobs. I was also updated on the positive impact this news could have for Prestwick. I will keep in regular contact with him and also keep Scottish ministers updated.”
This swift clarification should ease any immediate concerns at Prestwick but the long term ownership will affect the destination of future production output. Boeing and Airbus are fierce rivals in civil aeroplane manufacturing and neither is likely to want their products made by a direct competitor.
Airbus is looking to continue increasing the production rate for its best selling A320 family of aircraft. By 2027 it is looking to have 75 aircraft of the A320 family come off the production line each month. Boeing has had setbacks with its competitor 737 family of aircraft. It is possible that Boeing may reduce its production at Prestwick while Airbus is looking to increase its production. The name over the door may currently say Spirit but in the near future that will change – but to what ?