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Ed Anderson, AOA Executive Chairman confirmed that the AOA Board Members reviewed the entries for the various award Categories and after careful consideration chose Thales as the Best Manufacturer of 2008.  Mr Anderson said: "Thales UK's success was mainly due to the wide range of navigation and surveillance equipment manufactured and supplied by Thales to civil airports in the UK during 2008."

Thales systems are operational throughout the UK, with systems recently installed, or under construction at Bournemouth, Derry, Heathrow, Inverness, Jersey and Liverpool airports. 

The Thales Instrument Landing System (ILS)1 420 is supplied to UK civil airports to ensure safe landings in the most difficult visibility conditions, complemented by our navigation and surveillance systems. Thales offers a complete turnkey solution, including responsibility for installed performance in accordance with the UK regulatory authorities.

After accepting the award in London, Paul Kahn, Vice President and Managing Director Navigation & Airport Solutions, Thales UK, said: "This award marks the confidence that the UK Airports industry has in Thales as a world-class supplier of safe and effective solutions for airport operations.  The full range of Thales capability is on offer for UK airports, backed by successful track record of installations, approvals and operational systems in the UK."

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Notes to editors:
The ILS system is an indispensable aid to approach and landing especially under poor weather and visibility conditions. The system provides pilots with information to enable guidance during descent and with deviation information from a defined approach path down to and along the runway surface.

The Airport Operators Association (AOA) is the trade association that represents the interests of British airports and is the principal body with whom the UK Government and regulatory authorities consult on airport matters.  Membership comprises 72 airports representing all of the nation's international hub and major regional airports in addition to many serving community, business and leisure aviation.  A further 160 plus companies are Associate Members of the AOA.  These companies represent an impressive range of suppliers to the airports industry.

About Thales and Thales UK
Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales's leading-edge technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. To this end, the group's civil and military businesses develop in parallel and share a common base of technologies to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations.  The group builds its growth on its unique multi-domestic strategy based on trusted partnerships with national customers and market players, while leveraging its global expertise to support local technology and industrial development.  Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with 2007 revenues of £8.3 bn.

Thales UK employs 9,000 staff based at more than 50 locations.  In 2007 Thales UK's revenues were over £1.2 bn.

Press contact:
Thales UK
Kathryn Bell
Mob: +44 7813 903274
Email: kathryn.bell@thalesgroup.com

Thales UK, Air Systems
Denise Clarke
Mob: +44 (0)7711 428434
Email: denise.clarke@uk.thalesgroup.com

www.thalesgroup.com/uk