Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Pattonair wins EU backing for aerospace digital data platform

Aerospace

Pattonair wins EU backing for aerospace digital data platform

Derby-based aerospace and defence supply chain specialist Pattonair has joined forces with two innovative companies to win EU funding for a ground-breaking technology venture.


Courtesy Pattonair

The Derby-based firm is working with complex part machining specialists Advanced Manufacturing Ltd (AML) and technology start-up Parts Pedigree Ltd to create a digital cloud-based service for the aerospace industry.

The pioneering Parts Pedigree digital platform will help to minimise the loss of millions of pounds that parts manufacturers and customers endure every year through outdated paper-based tracking systems.

Advertisement
Leonardo

Using blockchain technology to notarise part certificates, the platform will allow businesses to track and view aviation parts and the related paperwork throughout their supply chain.

As well as providing a digital mechanism to record processes such as goods receipt and despatch, the project will be able to associate manufacturing and certification events with each component produced.

It is these multi-layers of innovation embedded within the project that secured the €120,000 grant from the EU’s Internet of Things (IoT) Commission which provides crucial funding to organisations looking to bring pioneering digital solutions to market. The joint proposal scored an impressive 13.5 out of 15.

Earmarked as the ‘supply chain of the future’, the venture is set to bring a wide range of benefits to both suppliers and customers through greater visibility into the manufacturing and certification processes.

Pattonair CEO Wayne Hollinshead explained: “For some time the aerospace industry has needed a shared approach to the documentation of the critical parts it uses.

“While some companies were working from paper, others may have made the move to digital, but across different systems. Having to navigate this path increased the risk of costly delays, quality issues and ultimately unhappy customers and their suppliers.

“We expect to see a tenfold efficiency improvement with the introduction of this new system. It will play a huge role in our commitment to keeping the world flying.”

Customers will be able to track where parts are, their status and be able to view the complete audit trail of related paperwork, which is crucial to track the lifetime of every single part.
In future, the data provided will help with parts forecasting, supply chain risk prediction and will ultimately deliver a better service.

“There’s an enormous amount of paperwork attached to aircraft parts,” said Tristan Whitehead, former Deloitte aerospace partner and founder and CEO of Parts Pedigree, based in Derby.
“Paper builds up in organisations, creating ‘data islands’ across the supply chain that are difficult to turn into actionable information.

“Sometimes there are problems with paperwork and, in most circumstances, the best practice has been to lock that part in a quarantine area, so that it doesn’t end up being installed on an aircraft without proper documentation. This ties up working capital and adds friction to the supply chain.

“The industry is losing hundreds of millions of dollars in inventory write-downs, as they end up with a long list of parts they can’t sell due to loss of documentation.

“The most expensive part is one that can’t fly.

Advertisement
ODU RT

“What this does is fully automate the traditional paper certification process, create an electronic advanced shipping notice and completely automate the receiving process which ultimately connects ‘data islands’, providing a digital thread of data that is hugely beneficial to planning and risk management.”

Dr Roger Singleton, project manager at AML, based in Sheffield, said that the idea of deploying critical part data for its aerospace production lines onto a secure blockchain platform “immediately caught our eye”.
He added: “We always strive to stay ahead of the curve in relation to technology, and this fits so well with our digital strategy for the business.

“Aside from the obvious time and paper cost saving within our operations department, it sets the foundation to effectively produce what we are calling a ‘part passport’ for each component.

“The more we can track what happens to individual components through the manufacturing process, the more we can improve and deliver value both within the business and to the supply chain as a whole.”

Jason Rance, Pattonair’s group innovation director, said: “We are committed to ensuring our customers have the latest solutions required to optimise their supply chain.

“Our dedicated innovation team, Pattonair Labs, actively works to partner with the best and brightest across sectors to ensure we remain leaders in our sector via the collaborative development of leading edge supply chain solutions.

“We are excited to be part of what we feel is a truly leading edge digital development.”

 

 

Advertisement
IAI Awareness Banner
Gatwick welcomes new Chief Executive Pierre-Hugues Schmit

Aerospace

Gatwick welcomes new Chief Executive Pierre-Hugues Schmit

19 September 2025

Pierre-Hugues Schmit joined London Gatwick this month as Chief Executive after eight years as Chief Commercial and Operational Officer at VINCI Airports, succeeding Stewart Wingate, who took up a his role as Managing Director of UK Airports.

Babcock secures contract with Australian Border Force

Aerospace Security

Babcock secures contract with Australian Border Force

18 September 2025

Babcock will continue a 30-year partnership with Australian Border Force as part of a new $250 million contract to protect the nation’s border in the strategically important Torres Strait.

AerFin takes delivery of second B777-300ER

Aerospace

AerFin takes delivery of second B777-300ER

18 September 2025

AerFin, the aviation asset specialist with headquarters in Newport, Wales, has taken delivery of a second B777-300ER previously operated by Japan Airlines, marking the company’s third acquisition of the aircraft type.

Brandauer enters new chapter following MBO

Aerospace Defence

Brandauer enters new chapter following MBO

18 September 2025

Historic Birmingham manufacturer Brandauer has been purchased by its management team with the vision of creating a world leading precision engineering specialist.

Advertisement
Amentum rectangle
Intelliconnect strengthens management team

Aerospace Defence

Intelliconnect strengthens management team

17 September 2025

RF and Cryogenic interconnect solutions specialist Intelliconnect (Europe), has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Yiannis Metallinos as Managing Director and Gary Langridge as Engineering Manager.

Getac launches UX10 and UX10-IP rugged tablets

Aerospace Defence Security

Getac launches UX10 and UX10-IP rugged tablets

17 September 2025

Getac has announced the launch of its next generation UX10 and UX10-IP fully rugged tablets.

Advertisement
ODU RT