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This paper describes ongoing research on the effects of hole quality on basic material properties / allowables of carbon fibre composite material. Using a novel test programme, the benefits of orbital drilling over traditional (or conventional) methods have been compared. Static (compression and tension) and dynamic (fatigue) tests have been performed on standard aerospace industry coupons. In order to identify the influence of the drilling method on the fracture behavior and fatigue properties of the material, acoustic emission has been performed during the testing. Roundness and surface replica studies have enabled the geometrical properties of the holes to be defined at different stages of the test. These measurement techniques were performed in order to correlate and understand the preliminary results of the tests.