Aerospace Industry News

While some sectors of the public may dismiss such a visit as mere grandstanding, the reality is that this type of visible, high level support of an Australian industry sector by the top Australian policy maker and leader is invaluable and helps to compensate for the high level support given to our international competitors by their Governments. Mr Hawke’s visit to Australian Aerospace in Paris did more to raise the level of awareness of the capacity and capability of the Australian aerospace industry (both within Australia and internationally) than most of us can imagine. Hopefully the impact of this awareness will be felt for years to come.

State· Government departments, the NSW Department of Business and Consumer Affairs, the Victorian Department of Industry Technology and Resources, the South Australian Department of State Development, the Western Australian TIDA and Queensland Department of Industry Development all represented the breadth of the aerospace interests from their areas who could not justify the cost of individual dedicated participation. In this way, the whole of the Australian aerospace industry had a voice at the Show.

Industry Involvement

From the industry side, the Association’s first aim was to ensure active participation by those companies who could be considered potential leading players in major international risk sharing projects. The Association had in mind Hawker de Havilland, ASTA, Hawker Pacific, AWA and British Aerospace Australia. In the end AWA did not participate. The reasons for the company’s absence are well understood but its absence did detract from the overall effectiveness of the Australian Aerospace presentation and was commented on by a number of overseas visitors to the stand. If the Australian aerospace industry is to achieve levels of international market penetration in the electronic systems and avionics sector, which have been achieved in the airframes sector, it is essential that there emerges significant major Australian contractors who can consistently play leading roles in electronic related project initiation and development and who have the marketing and organisation strengths to carry through these projects.

Secondly, the Association aimed to ensure active participation from those Australian companies who have ‘niche’ products or services which are currently saleable on the international market. The Association, recognising the tremendous costs associated with Paris and the intense competition which exists there, realised that participation by such companies would have to be carefully considered and the cost-effectiveness carefully weighed. In the event and thanks to considerable assistance, particularly by Austrade: Lucas, Ashley Pacific, Thruster, interscan, Skywise, IEI Australia, Strach and the Preston Group attended and, it is understood, achieved results which made the effort worthwhile.

The role bf AAAI executives at the Show was to establish, maintain and. reinforce relationships with international organisations and enterprises also at the Show who influence the environment in which AAAI members have to operate. In this the Association was given significant assistance by an unsolicited, generous financial grant towards its costs provided by Hawker de Havilland Ltd.

AAAI executives had ad hoc meetings with a number of major international companies but, more importantly, held formal prearranged meetings with: The Aerospace Industries Association of America Inc; The US Department of Commerce; GIFAS; The Society of. British Aerospace Companies; The Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies; The Canadian Aerospace Association; The Netherlands Aerospace Group; The Israeli Aircraft Industries; The Swedish Exhibitors; and the Finnish Exhibitors.

Publicity

Immediately before the Show the results of AAAl’s output and export survey became available. This shows a pleasing real increase in both categories. AAAI gave a number of press briefings at the Show for both daily newspapers and trade magazines. Subsequently articles appeared in leading newspapers.

There is an urgent need to ensure that constantly updated information on Australian aerospace capabilities and capacities is routinely made available to Directory publishers of international repute – like ‘Janes’. AAAI is ensuring this occurs.

Members Results

Companies who attended the Show report it as being very worthwhile in that many significant business opportunities were unearthed. A number of risk-sharing projects or opportunities were identified which in future years could mean many hundreds of million dollars of extra high level aerospace business for Australia.

Three major new agreements were announced at the Show.

Australia signed an agreement with the French company Thomson CSF to develop and manufacture monopulse secondary surveillance radar and associated equipment. The agreement includes collaboration with British Aerospace Australia.

Turbine Components of Australia – a joint venture between Rolls-Royce, Ansett Industries, Westintech and other Western Australian companies has decided to significantly expand and upgrade its blade casting facility in Perth, leading to a tripling of export sales.

Lastly, Ashley Pacific has signed a joint venture agreement with the US companies CTA Inc and McDonnell Douglas to develop and sell its ACAMS computer and image processing system which is used to provide advanced management and distribution of aviation maintenance documentation.

More detailed reports on results will not be available for some time yet and will be published when received.