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Aerospace Leaders Agree on U.S. Export Control Modernization, Environmental Efforts

June 19, 2007

European aerospace and defense industry leaders backed an initiative by their American counterparts to modernize the U.S. export control system Tuesday, saying improvements are needed to increase security and trade on both sides of the Atlantic. In a meeting of the chief executive officers of U.S. and European aerospace companies during the International Paris Air Show, the leaders agreed first that export controls are necessary to protect national sovereignty and security. Modernizing the U.S. system to make it more predictable, transparent, and efficient would boost trans-Atlantic trade, cooperation, and interoperability among friends and allies. The leaders also agreed that improving the ecological impact of aviation is an important goal for the global aerospace industry. Increased cooperation between the U.S. and Europe is vital to success. Future meetings are planned to coordinate plans and policy on the environment. One way to lessen aviation's effect on the environment is to modernize air transportation systems in Europe and the U.S. to lessen flight delays and reduce fuel burning, they said. Another important goal is to continue making new aircraft more fuel efficient and otherwise environmentally friendly. William H. Swanson of Raytheon Company and Charles Edelstenne of Dassault Aviation led their respective groups at the dialogue, an annual meeting between the leadership of the Aerospace Industries Association of America and AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe. Other executives taking part were Thomas Enders of EADS and