TWO Darwen companies are leading the way in air safety after receiving a seal of approval which allows them to repair aircrafts.

Brookhouse Composites Ltd and Brookhouse Aerospace Ltd, based in India Mill, are two of the first companies in the country to be awarded the qualification, known as Part 145 qualification, by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

It allows them to repair and overhaul aircraft components under strict regulations issued by the European Union. Only a small number of companies have been deemed worthy of receiving the standard after undergoing strict assessments.

The rules were brought in to ease fears following a series of much-publicised scares which have damaged the air industry, especially commercial passenger airlines. Brookhouse Composites' approval relates to composites parts and components - those made of a combination of materials such as plastics and fibre glass - and Brookhouse Aerospaces' approval relates to metal components and structures.

A spokesman for the two companies said: "Every part on an aircraft which is repaired or overhauled has got to be done so by someone who is officially approved.

"Approval used to be given by the Joint Aviation Authority which was a voluntary collection of companies who got together to make sure all aircrafts in the European Union had that kind of approval.

"Now it is given officially by the European Aviation Safety Agency. Brookhouse are two of the first to receive this which is really good news."

The EASA was set up in September 2003 as a key element in the European Union's strategy to maintain and improve the level of aviation safety in Europe and beyond. The organisation works in much the same way as the Federal Aviation Administration works in the United States.

Brookhouse Composites, which is part of Darwen-based Brookhouse Holdings, landed a prestigious contract in November last year to work on fuel tanks for the giant Hercules C-130 transport aircraft.