Method and apparatus for producing an aircraft structural component

A method for producing an aircraft structural component comprising the steps of:

• (a) clipping together a plurality of semi-finished product layers for producing a component from a fibre-reinforced, thermoplastic plastic material,
• (b) introducing the plurality of the semi-finished product layers, clipped together in the step (a), into a first compression mould comprising plane compression plates, such that the plurality of the semi-finished product layers are clipped at particular points in their position in the compression mould,
• (c) applying pressure to the plurality of the semi-finished product layers introduced into the first compression mould in the step (b),
• (d) enabling, during the applying of the pressure and due to the clipping in at least one of the step (a) and the step (b), a sliding movement of the semi-finished product layers, at least in an area between said particular points, relative to at least one of (i) one another and (ii) the compression mould, and
• (e) removing the semi-finished product layers from the compression mould after the applying of the pressure,
• wherein said step (c) comprises a first pressure-applying phase, during the first pressure-applying phase a pressure applied to a central region of the stacked semi-finished product layers in said first compression mould is higher than a pressure applied to a marginal region of the stacked semi-finished product layers.