AN ENGINEERING company has shared an award for its part in testing the wing structure of an airliner.

Ferchau Engineering, operated in the UK by Bournemouth-based KDC Group, was part of the Airbus-Wing-Level team that scooped a bronze Royal Aeronautical Society award.

The team at Ferchau, led by Darren Bowes, has been working alongside Airbus and partners from six other countries since 2012 to plan and execute major tests on the A350 XWB Airliner.

The campaign is a key part of the certification process for the plane.

Peter Burden, UK chief executive officer, said: “This is testament to the dedication and commitment the team has shown in providing Airbus with a first-class service.

“We have demonstrated again our ability to offer customers the most cost effective quality engineering solutions. We look forward to developing our relationship with Airbus in the future.”

Andrew Williams, from Airbus, wrote in the nomination: “This multi-disciplinary team has forged new ways of working, not just across different departments but often across transnational boundaries and companies to ensure the Wing organisation is ready for the start of the major test programme.”

The Society has been honouring outstanding achievers in the global aerospace industry since 1909, when Wilbur and Orville Wright received the first Gold Medal.

Ferchau Engineering is a German based company, with 60 offices and 7,000 employees, specialising in engineering and outsourcing for the aerospace, construction, automotive, rail and marine industries.

KDC Group is based at Aviation Park West at Bournemouth Airport.