Derbyshire-based Gardner Group's major investor, Better Capital PCC Limited, has acquired the French aerospace Group Airia SAS. 

Gardner has been looking to establish a substantial footprint in the important French aerospace industry and says it is delighted to have been able to acquire a business with sound growth plans of its own.

MAA members have held 50 one-to-one meetings with senior procurement managers from the major French aerospace prime Safran Group at the British Embassy in Paris.

Safran's Group Procurement Director and UKTI-France's leading aerospace expert invited 10 MAA members and 6 senior purchasing managers from across Safran to spend a day sharing information about the French company's future procurement requirements and MAA member capabilities.

The first pictures have been released of the new Aero Engine Controls facility due to open at Birmingham Business Park in 2014 when the company moves from its current premises in East Birmingham.

The £60 million advanced manufacturing and technology building will see more than 1,100 AEC West Midlands based staff re-locating from their current premises.

The Midlands Aerospace Alliance exhibited for the first time at the Singapore Airshow 2012. 

Highlights of the MAA stand were superb displays by member companies Bromford and Nasmyth and a display of the region's new aerospace technology capability exemplified by the MAA's Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme.

What does it take to supply global aerospace companies in the United Technologies family, like Hamilton Sundstrand, Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky? 

MAA members were given privileged access at an all-day event held at UTC's HS Marston facilities in Wolverhampton.