Airport Design and Planning

Atkins has launched a new aerospace engineering operation in North America. The move is part of the company’s strategy to extend the international reach of its successful aerospace engineering business and build a stronger presence in the North American aerospace market.

Neil Kirk, managing director of Atkins’ aerospace division, said: “Atkins has an established reputation for delivering high-quality aerospace engineering solutions to existing clients across Europe and we want to build upon that success in North America.

“Seattle is a major hub for aerospace so is the natural next step for Atkins’ aerospace business. We have already delivered a number of projects to clients in the US but the opening of a dedicated office in Seattle will be the springboard for us to accelerate growth in the region.”

Atkins has been delivering aerospace engineering solutions, covering metallic and composite design and analysis, and systems engineering for over ten years. During this time it has worked on composite materials research and development, a number of major aircraft development programmes including the Airbus A400M and A380, and on design and analysis in support of the A320 Sharklet.

The international reach of Atkins’ aerospace business has expanded significantly in recent years. The new North American operation will be based in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland and will work alongside existing aerospace offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and India.

The new aerospace operation will also add to Atkins’ existing offering in North America. Atkins has 3,600 employees in North America working in sectors including transportation, energy generation and construction.