The short-term outlook in the aerospace industry may be cloudy, but Alenia Aeronautica is in it for the long term – and there at least prospects are brighter.
Chairman and chief executive Giorgio Zappa opened yesterday's press briefing with the sobering report that company revenues dropped by around 25% last year.
He said that as the industry downturn had not yet stabilised, there would be no haphazard assessment of what lies ahead for the subsidiary of Finmeccanica, the Italian state-owned company that recently announced its commitment to refocusing on aerospace and defence.
Fellow Alenia executives reaffirmed the company's involvement in the respective programmes currently being undertaken, including its official entry into the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market with a technology demonstrator, recently rolled out in Turin-Caselle.
Zappa, asked to clarify details of specific guarantees received for work on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme, the Boeing 7E7 "Dreamliner" programme and possible losses through Eurofighter delays, displayed the diplomatic touch by commenting that "only good things would be said about allies". He also underlined his own company's commitment to being accountable for its responsibilities in the various collaborative projects.
As the prime Italian contractor on the F-35 JSF development, Alenia will supply the wing box and could manage the final assembly line for Italian armed forces if required by the defence ministry.
In the special mission category, Alenia Aeronautica highlighted several opportunities linked to the Italian armed forces' requirements. An order for four Boeing 767 tankers was signed at the end of last year, and both Alenia Aeronautica and Aeronavali are involved in an agreement for the life of the programme.
Evaluation
A national Airborne Early Warning (AEW) capability is envisaged and a maritime patrol replacement of ageing Atlantic 1 aircraft is under evaluation by the Italian defence ministry.
As the company sees an ultimate comeback for the industry, it highlighted its role in the Airbus A380 programme, where it will supply the centre fuselage, with its first work packages shipment due in August.
Last year Alenia Aeronautica ranked fifth among global aerostructure suppliers for the main civil manufacturers.
Carmelo Cosentino, Alenia Aeronautica's senior vice-president, put a positive spin on the company's outlook, with a commitment to participating in new programmes, entering into industrial alliances, diversifying and moving up the value chain.
Source: Flight Daily News
