Japan Aero 2012 and ASD Annual Convention
In early October, Marion C. Blakey, President and CEO of AIA and David Hess, President of Pratt & Whitney and Chairman of AIA’s Board of Governors represented AIA at the quadrennial Japan Aero Show held in Nagoya, Japan and the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) annual convention held in Lisbon, Portugal.
Japan continues to grow its aerospace manufacturing industrial base with the Mitsubishi Regional Jet and as the supplier for significant structures on the Boeing 787, including its composite wings. Blakey, in remarks during the show’s opening ceremony stated, “Japan is a tremendous contributor to the growth of aviation world-wide, and Mitsubishi’s very successful Regional Jet program is a shining example.” Between the growth of Asian civil aviation, the Pentagon’s “pivot” to Asia, easing of export restrictions on Japanese military equipment and the Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) decision to acquire the F-35, Japan is certain to have an aerospace leadership role going forward. In formal remarks during the air show referencing the F-35, Mr. Hess noted “On this program, Japan is not only a customer, but also a supplier. Japanese manufacturers, in fact, will make close to 40 percent of the F-35’s components.”
AIA’s European counterpart association, ASD, hosted over 600 European industry and government representatives at their annual convention. The challenges surrounding the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) continue to make headlines around the world and were a large topic of discussion during the convention. In a keynote address Mr. Hess noted that ETS could erase the narrow profit margin for carriers. Regarding emissions, he commented that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has worked closely with industry on global emissions standards and recognizes the advances already made in aircraft technology. “These advances include composite materials, innovative design and more efficient engines that don’t compromise on power and range,” said Hess. “But we know that these solutions are not cheap. Development costs are high, and the risks are great, but we must have ongoing investment in new solutions if our customers are to remain competitive in this evolving marketplace. For these reasons and many more, transatlantic cooperation will continue to light the way forward.”
Transatlantic and transpacific cooperation will both continue to remain AIA priorities in this increasingly globalized aerospace and defense market.
AIA Source: pj.hart[at]aia-aerospace.org
