FLYING high above the clouds in a jumbo jet, it's not every airline passenger who contemplates the engineering skills of the men and women who keep them aloft.

But American aerospace giant Boeing is keen to pay tribute to the brains behind its success.

That's why it has put the spotlight on senior engineer Dr Gerry Fitzpatrick and his team at Rolls-Royce, in Barnoldswick, in a national advertising campaign.

The month-long campaign urges people to remember: "When you fly a Boeing 777 today, you can thank Gerry's team for the smooth but powerful take-off."

Because Gerry and his team, who have already won awards for manufacturing excellence, are the brains behing some of the key components in Rolls-Royce aero engines - the preferred choice of Boeing for its world- beating passenger aircraft.

Even though Rolls-Royce's main UK base is in Derby, its plants at Barnoldswick are recognised as the world centre of excellence in manufacturing wide chord fan blades.

Their development has been perhaps the single most significant factor in putting Rolls-Royce ahead of the field.

The picture for Boeing's advert, reproduced here and featuring in national broadsheet newspapers, shows Gerry and his dog Ben looking to the skies from the top of Pendle Hill.

It draws a historical parallel with the Quaker movement and its founder George Fox, with the slogan: "We can trace our lineage to a visionary on Pendle Hill".

The advert goes on to explain how Rolls-Royce revolutionised jet engine technology through stronger, lighter fan blades, first launched on Boeing aircraft.

For 51-year-old project manager Gerry, and his miniature Schnauzer Ben, a walk up the Nick O'Pendle is a regular pleasure.

But this is the first time it has been featured in a national advertising campaign.

Boeing approached Rolls-Royce several months ago looking for ideas for the advert, and between them they came up with the idea of highlighting the crucial work of Gerry and his team.

Commenting on the advert, Gerry said: "It is wonderful from the company's point of view - and for Ben the dog!"

And stressing that success was a product of team effort, he said of the recognition: "It is excellent publicity for the Rolls-Royce team."

A company spokesman for Rolls-Royce added: "Barnoldswick is a very important part of Rolls-Royce and we wanted to do something with them for this advert.

"It's a great tribute to Gerry and his colleagues who work there."

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