Andrea Spinelli/GENOA
THE LONG-RUNNING battle to create a single Italian trainer-manufacturer is close to being resolved, with Aermacchi and Finmeccanica involved in negotiations over setting up a new merged company.
The rivalry between Aermacchi and Siai Marchetti, which is now within the Finmeccanica group, has long been held responsible for Italy's failure to win new trainer business.
Finmeccanica also holds 25% of Aermacchi with the remainder in the hands of the Foresio family. Now the two companies have agreed to establish a series of working groups designed to create a single joint-venture company.
Aermacchi will control 60% of the merged company, which is likely to have sales of around L300 billion ($188 million) and a workforce of some 1,600. Rationalisation is expected, however, with analysts suggesting that Siai's Sesto Calende plant may be closed and operations moved to Aermacchi's new centre at neighbouring Venegono.
The combined company would offer a complete product line, ranging from Siai's SF.260 piston-engined trainer and S.211 basic jet trainer, through to Aermacchi's MB.339 advanced jet trainer and work on the Yakovlev Yak-130.
Italy's latest financing plan also calls for nearly L30 billion to fund a new basic screener piston-engined model and an-as-yet undefined advanced trainer.
Analysts also suggest that the alliance could be enlarged to take in corporate aircraft by absorbing the struggling Piaggio, in which Finmeccanica has an interest.
Siai itself was inherited by Finmeccanica when it took over the defence aerospace interests of the collapsed state-holding company Efim, including the Agusta group of which Siai Marchetti was part. Under Finmeccanica's restructuring Agusta will now concentrate on its helicopter business.
Source: Flight International
