Atkins, Europe's largest multi-disciplinary consultancy, and Stirling Dynamics, the UK's leading independent landing gear specialist, have been selected to supply engineering services for Airbus landing gear in the UK.

The Atkins/Stirling partnership, which will provide a broad range of engineering services to Airbus, was recently awarded a contract for Landing Gear Structures, having also been awarded the Landing Gear Systems contract earlier this year.

More specifically, Atkins/Stirling will be supporting the Design Integration and Research & Technology activities of the Airbus Landing Gear Centre of Competence, including:

• nose, fuselage and wing landing gear structures

• wheels, tyres & brakes

• braking, steering, extension/retraction & monitoring systems.

The initial contract will cover Airbus' civil aircraft, including the A350 XWB, A380, A330/A340, and A320 families, as well as Research and Technology for the next generation of aircraft.

Neil Kirk, managing director of Atkins' Aerospace business, said: "Atkins is well-placed to supply landing gear engineering services because of our broad technical capability, our in-depth experience of Airbus aircraft and our partnership approach to working with clients. The contract covers a broad range of aircraft – from those already in service, through those in development, to aircraft still in the research and technology phase – so developing a close working relationship with our client is central to overall success."

Andrew Pfeil, Technical Director at Stirling Dynamics, added: "The recent award of the landing gear Structures package fully compliments the existing Landing gear Systems package and will permit Atkins and Stirling to provide a fully rounded support from concept and throughout programme lifecycles across multiple disciplines. It provides the mechanism for both Stirling and Atkins to each provide real added value and embraces their respective significant expertise and individual strengths in one support framework."