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Subject: Farnborogh
From: GregorKursell (YZA1850@dbmail.dasa.de) at ccnode
Date: 9/1/98 04:46 PM
Dasa CEO Bischoff: Time to Pave the Way for Technologies and Products for the 21st Century
Munich/Farnborough — In the discussion concerning the future structures of a united aerospace and defence industry, Europe must not lose sight of the technological basis, Manfred Bischoff, CEO of Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG (Dasa, Munich), pointed out on the occasion of the opening of the 1998 International Air Show in Farnborough. "We Europeans must pave the way now for the technologies and products we will need for the markets of the 21st century," he said. "Because without future projects, there can be no future industry."
The structure and tasks of the European industry are mutually dependent. "For this reason the discussion should not revolve one-sidedly around the structure," Bischoff said. "Industrial structures should only provide an effective organisation for developing competitive products and technologies and marketing them world-wide." In this context Bischoff mentioned the A3XX wide-body aircraft, the new transport aircraft for the armed forces of the European NATO countries, future reusable space transporters as successors to the Ariane 5, and European satellite navigation and communications as examples. The growth of air traffic also requires new technologies to reduce energy consumption and exhaust emissions from engines. "These projects are the most urgent ones for which we need efficient European structures," Bischoff stressed.
Dasa’s CEO judges the European industry to be in good shape at present, even in comparison to its competitors in the United States. "But the US industry will soon overcome its current problems, and then we will once again experience a sharp intensification of competition. For this reason we must use the phase of growth and prosperity to create the technological basis for tomorrow. Then we’ll be able to overcome hard times in the future without difficulty."
Bischoff pointed out that safeguarding the technological basis will continue to be a joint task of governments and industry in Europe. "Clear decisions on the promotion of technology and future products would provide the best support in the fusion process of European companies."
The European Commission, he commented, is already on the right path with its proposal for the planned 1999 start of the 5th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. "It is now up to the European Council and the European Parliament to quickly approve this future investment and complement the national research activities of the member countries."
At Farnborough Dasa is presenting an overview of its products, international projects and co-operations in Hall 3, stand D1. The number one company of Germany’s aerospace industry has a major interest in the Airbus Industrie consortium, in the Eurofighter project, and in numerous engine programs for military and civil aviation. Dasa also plays a key role in the construction of the successful Ariane 4 and 5 launchers as well as in numerous satellite projects and has a share in Eurocopter, the world’s biggest manufacturer of civil helicopters.
Munich, September 6, 1998
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