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 AIA UPDATE: June/July 2007, Volume 11, No. 8
AIA President and CEO John W. Douglass to Retire at Year's End  John W. Douglass, who has guided AIA for nine years through both lean and robust economic times, plans to retire as president and CEO as of Dec. 31.
Douglass, 66, is a former assistant secretary of the Navy and U.S. Air Force brigadier general, and a nationally recognized expert in systems acquisition. He is only the seventh full-time chief executive of the association, which was founded in 1919 and counts pioneers Orville Wright and Glen Curtiss as early members. Douglass made the announcement that he would retire at the end of the year during AIA's Board of Governors meeting in Williamsburg, Va. He said his plans include writing, consulting, and pursuing opportunities to teach acquisition. The association CEO has been a tireless advocate for the industry. He spurred interest in revitalizing research and development funding, modernizing the export control system, and heightening awareness of an impending shortage of critical talent in the workforce. Well-known to the capital press corps, Douglass has been cited on several occasions as one of Washington's top lobbyists. He leaves with industrywide statistics at impressive levels, including record sales, increasing employment, and — at $55 billion — the largest foreign trade surplus of any U.S. manufacturing sector. He also dealt with the considerable challenges posed by the terrorist attacks of 9/11, which included a dramatic economic slowdown in the civil aviation sector of industry in addition to the human tragedy. AIA Board of Governors Chairman William H. Swanson said Douglass showed exceptional leadership through an important period for the aerospace and defense industry. "John has provided a steady hand at the controls for almost a decade," Swanson said. "The industry has benefited from his guidance and vision for the future. We greatly appreciate his service to our customers, the nation, and our industry." Among his accomplishments Douglass counts the successful push for the creation of the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry on which he also served. The commission's report resulted in the formation of the Joint Planning and Development Office, a multi-agency body preparing the Next Generation Air Transportation System. Douglass established AIA's popular Team America Rocketry Challenge for middle and high school students, an important part of efforts to attract more young people to careers in aerospace. AIA doubled regular membership from 52 to 104 under Douglass' direction while significantly expanding the associate member roster from 24 to 176 companies. Before coming to AIA, Douglass was assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition. He had served as foreign policy and science and technology advisor to former Sen. Sam Nunn on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He earlier completed a 28-year career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 1992 as a brigadier general. His numerous assignments included service as the deputy U.S. military representative to NATO as well as director of plans and policy and director of science and technology in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Douglass served as special assistant to the undersecretary of defense for acquisition. Within the office of the president, Douglass was a director of national security programs for the National Security Council at the White House and served as President Reagan's personal representative to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management chaired by David Packard. TARC Crowns Newark Memorial High Its Fifth Annual Champion  A team from Newark Memorial High School in Newark, Calif., captured the fifth annual Team America Rocketry Challenge in May, beating out 99 other school squads with a near-perfect score.
West High School Team 2 from Madison, Wis., was runner-up, and W.G. Enloe High School of Raleigh, N.C., took third place. The Newark Memorial team, which placed 11th in last year's contest, consists of Ramon Arias, Anthony Camarra, Donny Evans, Matthew Jacuzzi, and Emily Thym. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates presented trophies to the top 10 teams, telling participants that the challenge was an excellent start to a journey that can take them as far as their aspirations will lead them. Other special guests at the national finals were former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne, Air Force Undersecretary Ron Sega, Director of Defense Research and Engineering John Young, and NASA Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Scott Horowitz. Newark Memorial will share more than $60,000 in scholarships and other prizes with other top finishers. In addition, the winners will travel to the International Paris Air Show in June under the sponsorship of Raytheon Company. The scholarship money includes a donation by Lockheed Martin of $5,000 for each of the top three teams. TARC, now heading into its sixth year, is coordinated by AIA and the National Association of Rocketry. The 2007 Challenge was to design, build, and fly a model rocket carrying a raw egg and return it safely to the ground while staying aloft for exactly 45 seconds in attempting to reach an altitude of 850 feet. DoD, NASA, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and 38 AIA member companies participated in sponsoring the event. Approximately 600 students on the 100 final teams competed in the national finals at Great Meadow in The Plains, Va. Some 7,000 students on 690 teams participated in the qualifying rounds. Since the contest started in 2003, about 40,000 students have participated. AIA conceived TARC in 2003 as a one-time event to mark the centennial of flight. It was so popular that the association brought it back as an annual event aimed at attracting young people to study science, math, and other technology-related subjects. For more information, visit www.rocketcontest.org. 2007 Team America Rocketry Challenge AIA Member Corporate Partners
AIA Source: audrey.koehler@aia-aerospace.org AEROSPACE FOCUS  Coalition to Modernize Export Control System Adds Members Ten additional organizations have joined the Coalition for Security and Competitiveness, a partnership of leading groups advocating a modernized export control system to boost U.S. national security and economic strength. New to the coalition are the American Association of Exporters and Importers, American Electronics Association, Business Roundtable, National Defense Industrial Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Government Electronics and Information Technology Association, Industrial Fasteners Institute, Satellite Industry Association, Space Foundation, and the U.S. Chamber's Space Enterprise Council. They have come together with eight other advocacy groups seeking to make the export control system more predictable, efficient, and transparent. The coalition formed in April and, as one of its first acts, sent a letter to President Bush asking that he take immediate steps to modernize the system through administrative — non-legislative — changes. The system should continue to protect America's most sensitive military technologies from adversaries and rivals, the letter said, while maximizing the benefits of trade and technology cooperation with U.S. allies and friends. The coalition presented the administration with 19 specific steps that can improve the export control system. Coalition officials said they have received acknowledgement of the proposals from administration representatives and have established an ongoing discussion with them. Original members of the coalition are the Aerospace Industries Association, Association for Manufacturing Technology, Coalition for Employment through Exports, Electronic Industries Alliance, Information Technology Industry Council, National Association of Manufacturers, National Foreign Trade Council, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit www.securityandcompetitiveness.org. AIA Source: remy.nathan@aia-aerospace.org WASHINGTON PIPELINE: Aerospace: Looming Industry Workforce Crisis Needs Congressional Boost to Strengthen Education By John W. Douglass, AIA President and Chief Executive Officer The final round of the world's largest model rocket contest — the Team America Rocketry Challenge — was highly successful again this year, with about 600 students taking part and great interest from aerospace and defense dignitaries such as Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Excellent support from sponsoring companies raised the quality of prizes and interaction between corporate representatives and the students they hope to hire as engineers in the future. While the team from Newark Memorial High School in California took top honors, every one of the estimated 7,000 students who participated in this year's contest was a winner. This annual event raises the profile of the looming workforce crisis in our industry that so many of you in aerospace and defense companies know all too well. But the shortage of qualified employees as more and more long-time workers become eligible to retire is only one piece of the puzzle to address and, hopefully, head off. One set of workforce statistics underscores the problem. An estimated 40,000 new engineering graduates are available each year for all high-technology industries, including all the aeronautical, electrical, mechanical, and other degreed professionals for aerospace. While 40,000 might sound like a lot, just one of AIA's 275 member companies anticipates needing 10,000 engineers per year for the next five years. Just one. There are simply not enough students studying technology subjects to replace them, highlighting the need for a concerted strategy to increase interest and expertise. So what, aside from the rocket contest, is AIA doing about this issue? We are working with many public and private entities, including the Labor Department and congressional education committees, on ideas to help build the aerospace engineering and technical workforce. That means strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics educational programs, an initiative known as STEM, and developing more qualified teachers. There is evidence that interest in STEM might be on an upswing as several groups have dedicated millions of dollars to highlight the initiative in next year's presidential election. Clearly, there is general recognition these programs need support. Industry is willing to do its share, but lawmakers must make them a priority, providing ample funding and devoting resources to move the effort forward. AIA member companies can help congressional offices recognize how important the issue is, bringing it up during meetings with lawmakers and their staffs. I would encourage you to mention the statistics stated earlier to illustrate the issue. As we all know, direct contact with legislators by employers in their districts has been a highly effective strategy for our industry in the past. As TARC showed, launching a rocket 850 feet is a great motivator for students. But we've got to back it up with real, sustained action — developing a well-funded, national program to increase the quality and quantity of teachers in scientific and technical disciplines and subsequently attracting students to major in these disciplines. Until we do, our future will be in serious jeopardy. WASHINGTON WATCH: AIA Supporting U.S.-Korea Trade Pact In support of the pending free trade accord between the United States and Korea, AIA has joined the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement Business Coalition, an organization of more than 400 associations and companies advocating congressional approval of the pact. Bilateral negotiations on the agreement were completed April 1, and it was sent to Congress for ratification in May by U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab. "The agreement will advance U.S. efforts to deepen and strengthen its trade and investment ties in a strategically significant part of the world," the ambassador pointed out. The coalition is a broad-based group of U.S. companies and trade associations that supports approval and implementation of the pact by Congress. The group is co-chaired by Ted Austell, vice president of international policy for The Boeing Company. Korea is the seventh largest U.S. trading partner and has a $1 trillion economy. U.S. exports to Korea totaled $32.5 billion in 2006, with U.S. aerospace exports to Korea last year put at $3.46 billion. The agreement would make Korea the largest nation to join in a free trade partnership with the United States in the past 15 years. Nearly 95 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products is expected to become duty-free within three years of when the agreement takes effect, with most remaining tariffs expected to be eliminated within 10 years. The U.S.-Korea free trade agreement, along with similar trade pacts with Peru, Panama, and Colombia, are likely to be considered by Congress this summer. AIA will continue its work on Capitol Hill in the coming months toward congressional approval of the agreements. AIA Source: joseph.lai@aia-aerospace.org WASHINGTON WATCH: U.S. and Canada Agree on Dual-National Issue The U.S. and Canadian governments have reached agreement on the application of U.S. export control requirements to controlled technologies accessed by dual-nationals in the Canadian Department of National Defense (DND). In recent months, prohibition of dual-national access, based on the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), came into conflict with Canadian discrimination laws and threatened a number of high-profile Canadian defense purchases from U.S. companies. The U.S. State Department has agreed to grant access to defense articles and services exported under ITAR to DND personnel who are Canadian citizens holding a minimum secret-level security clearance, including dual-nationals. DND personnel include Canadian Forces members, civilian employees, embedded contractors, and employees of other federal government departments and agencies working within the defense agency. While this arrangement does not address access to ITAR-controlled goods by dual-nationals working for Canadian high-tech, defense, and aerospace companies, AIA encourages the possibility of expanding the agreement to the Canadian private sector and other countries. AIA Source: remy.nathan@aia-aerospace.org WASHINGTON WATCH: AIA Advocates for Career Legislation Congress should support three pending bills that would help attract young people to science, math, and engineering studies, AIA President and CEO John Douglass urged recently. Two House bills and one Senate bill would build upon the variety of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education programs currently underway within numerous federal and state agencies. The STEM initiative is a priority for the aerospace and defense industry as it looks to increase the number of students in fields that could lead to careers in the industry, Douglass said. "It's vitally important we do all we can to attract young people to these important fields of study," Douglass said. "The future of our industry and others in technical fields literally depends on the next generation of potential scientists and engineers." The aerospace workforce is aging, with 27 percent of employees eligible to retire in the next five years. In the meantime, young people are not choosing to pursue math, science, engineering and other technical areas of study in sufficient numbers to replace them. The result will be hundreds of thousands more positions available by 2011 than qualified candidates to fill them, the association CEO stressed. The Senate bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), an original co-sponsor; would establish grants and programs to start math and science specialty schools, improve teaching skills among public school teachers, and create summer internships at national laboratories. The bill passed the Senate on an 88-8 vote and is pending in the House. On the House side, HR 362, would enhance and expand an existing scholarship program that places science, math, and engineering students and professionals in teaching positions in elementary and secondary schools. The bill would create a research grant program for early career scientists and engineers as well as endorsing a balanced funding approach to NASA programs to make careers in that agency more attractive. Both bills are sponsored by Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) and co-sponsored by committee Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-Texas). They are awaiting action in the Senate after passing the House with bipartisan support. AIA Source: david.bailor@aia-aerospace.org AIA's Romanowski Urges Swift Action for Air Transportation System Modernization The federal government is not devoting the resources necessary to keep the technologically advanced Next Generation Air Transportation System on track, AIA Civil Aviation Vice President Michael Romanowski said in congressional testimony in May. This failure, he said, could cost the economy billions of dollars. Government agencies must undertake development of the system, dubbed NextGen, with a significantly higher level of urgency, Romanowski said during testimony before the House Aviation Subcommittee. Failing to ramp up efforts will result in the system not being able to keep up with spiking demand for air travel. "Given the length of time required to develop and implement NextGen, it's critical that we jump start (it) now," Romanowski said. An estimate in the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry's 2002 final report put the cost of aviation delays to the entire economy at $30 billion.The hearing was the second in about a month in which the House tapped an industry expert from AIA to comment on NextGen development. Association President and CEO John Douglass delivered a similar message to the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee in March. Romanowski testified during the subcommittee's hearing on the future of air traffic control modernization. NextGen is an advanced comprehensive system that encompasses air traffic control, safety, security, and every other aspect of air travel. The multi-agency Joint Planning and Development Office is charged with developing and implementing NextGen. The amount of funding for aeronautics research and development is woefully insufficient after years of budget cuts, Romanowski said. Congress added $166 million to aeronautics R&D this fiscal year, and that money should go toward NextGen transitional research to help close the existing research gap, he stated. Romanowski said other problems include a lack of urgency in planning; insufficient authority and accountability; issues with program alignment, implementation, and management; and too little engagement with industry. Other experts who testified with Romanowski were General Aviation Manufacturers Association President and CEO Peter Bunce, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University executive Christina Frederick-Recascino, and Professional Airways Systems Specialist President Thomas Brantley. AIA Source: patrick.mccartan@aia-aerospace.org Defense Rulemaking Information Now Available on DPAP Web Site Navigating the defense rulemaking process is becoming easier with relevant information now readily available on a Defense Department Web site. The Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy office, led by Director Shay Assad, maintains a regularly updated data base of open Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) cases. The public can find synopsis and status information, including milestone dates and deadlines, for open FAR and DFARS cases at www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/ under the Defense Acquisition Regulation System (DARS) tab. Recent proposed rules of particular interest posted on the site include:
All comments, from AIA and other interested parties, are available at www.regulations.gov. AIA Source: elaine.guth@aia-aerospace.org New Members Added to Association Roster Two more aerospace companies have determined that membership in AIA is a good business decision. LAI International is known as the world's largest combined laser and waterjet machining service provider. Founded in 1979, LAI's four U.S. manufacturing facilities are in Westminster, Md.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Tucson, Ariz. Its corporate headquarters is in Scottsdale, Ariz. The company provides complete supply chain management from acquiring and processing raw materials into final products to manufacturing finished assemblies. LAI specializes in precision waterjet processing and laser machining to manufacture complete components for aerospace, armor, automotive, defense, electronics, medical, power generation, and other industries. Visit www.laico.com to learn more about LAI International. Orbital Sciences Corporation develops and manufactures small space and rocket systems for commercial, military, and civil government customers. Founded in 1982, the company is headquartered in Dulles, Va. The firm's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-orbit, geosynchronous-orbit, and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific, and defense missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical services to government agencies and develops and builds satellite-based transportation management systems for public transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators. See www.orbital.com for more information. AIA Source: trish.ward@aia-aerospace.com Elson Joins AIA's Legislative Affairs Team Brian K. Elson has joined AIA's legislative affairs team to monitor civil aviation issues. Elson had been associate director of governmental affairs at the U.S. Transportation Department, providing congressional liaison for air transportation modernization and FAA policy matters. A native of Colorado, Elson participated in the state's Bush-Cheney re-election organization in 2004. He coordinated message development and event planning with county Republican chairs and organized appearances by the president and vice president. After the campaign, he served on the 2005 presidential inauguration committee. Earlier, Elson was a project analyst at the Englewood, Colo.,-based Aviation Management Consulting Group, focusing on airport strategic plans, lease rate appraisals, and market rent studies. He earned a bachelor's degree in aviation management from the Metropolitan State College of Denver. Elson can be reached at brian.elson@aia-aerospace.org. AIA Source: patrick.mccartan@aia-aerospace.org More Funding Approved for ORS Efforts by AIA's Space Council to increase congressional support for the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) program are paying off. A $30 million plus-up for ORS was included in the recently completed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2008. Overwhelmingly approved by the House, the bill would give the ORS program $117 million — well above the 2006 U.S. Air Force program objective memorandum request for $2 million. Further, the final report language echoed Space Council recommendations for increased and balanced funding. The council recommended an increase of $63 million to balance a budget request that focused too much on near-term launch solutions. Accordingly, the House Armed Services Committee report reflects a more balanced investment approach among all elements of the system — spacecraft (buses and payloads), launch services, and system infrastructure. The Senate Armed Services Committee also recently increased the ORS budget by $15 million, which has been designated for small satellite sensors. Furthermore, the much-awaited ORS report from the Defense Department to Congress was delivered in April. The report, required by the 2007 Defense Authorization Act, outlines how DoD would organize, administer, and implement the ORS office, which opened May 21 at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. AIA Source: anne.ellis@aia-aerospace.org Aircraft and Engine Manufacturers Achieve Emission Gains By Howard Aylesworth, AIA Director, Civil Aviation
Upcoming installments will examine issues that affect the air in which we travel: increased fuel efficiency, alternative fuels, emerging technologies, and advances in research and development. Significant improvements in aircraft fuel efficiency have been achieved since the dawn of the jet age. Between 1950 and 1997 fuel consumption per available seat kilometer was reduced 70 percent, an average of one-to-two percent per year for new production aircraft. And, since 1997, aircraft fuel use has been reduced a further three-to-five percent. Approximately 40 percent of this fuel savings is attributable to advances in airframe technology and 60 percent to engine technology. These remarkable improvements are the result of market forces and robust publicly funded technology research, development, and demonstration programs. Each kilogram of fuel produces 3.17 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2). Based on a study by its Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection, the United Nation's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) resolved that market forces were sufficient to ensure significant CO2 reductions. ICAO emissions standards apply to oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and smoke. The production of particulate matter from aircraft engines is being examined to understand the chemistry of its formation. Should particulate matter pose a threat to public health and welfare, ICAO would initiate work to include it in the emissions standard. The laws of physics dictate that although aircraft noise and some engine emissions species could be reduced to their maximum not all can be maximized simultaneously. New NOx reduction and fuel-saving technologies being considered for application in new engines are producing either carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons at levels that do not meet the regulatory standard. The scope of current ICAO emissions standards is appropriate due to the lack of significant market incentives to further reduce NOx and other emissions species. This combination of market-based and regulatory approaches is a winning solution for airlines, airports, communities, and the environment. ICAO standards, recommended practices, and resolutions are consensus documents for global, regional, national, and local action. Absent this consensus, individual solutions lead toward economic fragmentation, political antagonism, and social isolation and thwart achievement of environmental goals. Global action working through ICAO is the means to prevent this. |
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