INDUSTRY

The British government and the aerospace industry are match-funding a three-year £17.4m technology program to speed up aircraft design. A consortium led by supplier Airbus will develop simulation software under the CFMS Core program. The aim is to reduce development time and making the process more environmentally friendly. By 2012 simulations will replace physical testing, cutting parts of the design process from 350 days to 36, says the Department of Trade and Industry, which is putting up £8.7m of the investment. 'Britain is already a world leader in aerospace and we want to keep it there. This investment supports the type of new technology we need,' said secretary of state Alistair Darling. 'It again puts this country at the forefront of greener transport technology. Cutting energy consumption and waste in the design process,' he said.