QEC life raft shielding gains recognition from BAE Systems and Thales
Above: The shield prototype is lifted into position ready for testing.
The work of the Frazer-Nash team in developing and testing the shielding, which will protect vital life rafts from jet blasts, has been rewarded with a Chairman’s Award Business Leader prize from BAE Systems and a Customer Trust Award from Thales.
The BAE Systems’ Chairman’s Awards recognise employees, colleagues, partners and customers for outstanding effort and achievement, honouring innovative ideas, actions, and behaviours. The team was nominated by Stuart Justice, ACA Technical Authority on the QEC Programme, for an award under the title ‘How to save a life (raft)’. Design lead and project manager, James Speedy, received a certificate from a recognition evening held with BAE’s Maritime Services and Submarines departments in November.
Thales nominated the Frazer-Nash project team for a Customer Trust Award for Defence Mission Systems UK, in appreciation of its practical and timely solution to the complex aerothermal issue associated with the QEC’s ship-aircraft interface.
Describing how the life raft shielding had ‘saved significant structural redesign’, Thales Director, Eddie Awang, said: “Your system will ensure that future generations of ship’s company on QEC can operate the most advanced 5th generation multi-role aircraft safely, in the knowledge that lifesaving equipment is protected and safe to use.”
As part of the award, the team won a survival course, where they worked together to develop bushcraft and wilderness skills through building shelters, lighting fires and foraging for and preparing food.
James Speedy said: “We are delighted that the dedication and commitment of the team has been recognised. To be able to deliver a cost-effective solution to help protect the evacuation capability of the QEC required a high degree of creative thinking. It's great to see all the hard work pay off.”
