Airbus UK is planning to gradually ramp up production of A380 wings at its Broughton site this year.
It intends to deliver six to 10 A380 wing sets from its Broughton site to Toulouse in 2007, 18 in 2008 and 30-33 in 2009. Production was due to be running at over one a month by now, but output all but ground to a halt due to the A380 programme delays. Although the division shipped an A380 wingset last month, this was the first to be dispatched to Toulouse since August. The next set will leave "around the end of January or start of February", says John Gillbanks, vice-president A380 centre of excellence wing.
The delay has forced Airbus UK to transfer staff from the A380 wing line to other parts of the plant. Staff have also been dispatched to Airbus plants in Toulouse and Hamburg. These workers are likely to be brought back gradually throughout 2007, says Gillbanks.
While production work continues on the first A380 Freighter wingset, the remaining staff working on passenger A380 wings are undertaking modification work.
Staff will be gradually redeployed on to the A380 line during 2007 |
Source: Flight International
