Air Transport

Farnborough Aerospace Consortium chief executive Ross Bradley is leaving the UK trade body in mid-October to take up the same role at the composite aerostructures business being set up in Abu Dhabi by Mubadala Aerospace.

FAC sources say the group has called on recruiters to find a successor to Bradley.

Mubadala Aerospace aims to become a first-tier supplier to next-generation Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft and is building a composites plant set to go live in 2010.

It signed an agreement with Airbus parent EADS at the Farnborough air show in July to supply spoilers and flap track fairings for Airbus widebodies including the A380 and A350.

The company, a division of Abu Dhabi's government-owned investment arm, Mubadala Development, wants to establish a significant aerospace research and engineering hub in Abu Dhabi.

Some $500 million investment is thought to be earmarked for the composites facility, which will initially employ 400 people.

At Farnborough, EADS said its partnership with Mubadala would generate $1 billion in revenue for the composites business over 10 years.

Mubadala is working with EADS and Rolls-Royce in a bid to create a significant aerospace research and engineering hub in Abu Dhabi.

Its Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies maintenance and repair business is gearing up to support R-R Trent engines and, ultimately, become part of the worldwide Airbus support network.

FAC recently opened member support offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi.