A TRANSATLANTIC link-up has entered the digital age!

Workers at British Aerospace at Samlesbury and at Boeing in St Louis, USA, are now using the latest in digital editing technology for their work on the T-45 Goshawk programme

In the past when there were queries from Boeing engineers about aspects of the project, they used to communicate with Lancashire workers through faxes.

Due to the time difference between Samlesbury and St Louis the process often used to take several days.

Now Boeing staff send a digital video recording of the component via an electronic link and, within minutes of it arriving at Samlesbury, engineers are able to assess the problem. They then send a video back of the proposed solution.

Earlier this year BAe announced a major deal for more planes to train America's 'Top Gun' fighter pilots. The T45 Goshawk project at British Aerospace, Samlesbury, has been extended from the current finish date of 2003 to at least 2007. The Samlesbury site manufactures a large part of the airframe of the T45 plane which is used by the US Navy to train its frontline combat pilots. Since 1988, it has produced more than 100 fuselages for the aircraft, which are matched with wings made at BAe's Brough site in Humberside, before being shipped to Boeing's St Louis plant for final assembly.

The success of the project saw production at Samlesbury last year being increased to 15 aircraft a year and the latest order plans will help secure work for at least eight years.

The current order stands at 187 planes, which were due to be completed by 2003.

But now, the US Navy wants another 47 aircraft, which would extend the Samlesbury workload through to the year 2007.

The T45 is based on the Hawk aircraft but is specially adapted for use on aircraft carriers. It is a joint development between British Aerospace and American aerospace giant Boeing.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.