The AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe and the Aerospace Industries Association of America met at Farnborough air show on Tuesday and agreed to collaborate to advance ethical business practices and to lessen aviation's impact on the environment.
The two organisations represent the heads of some of the largest aerospace companies on both sides of the Atlantic, and following the meeting said that they are also discussing efforts to improve the export control systems. They agreed that aerospace, as a global industry, should support open and fair markets and work together to achieve that goal.
The leaders agreed to use, as a basis, the existing business ethics regimes in place in the USA and Europe as a starting point for efforts to exchange best practices internationally, and agreed to hold an international forum on business conduct each year to review progress. Meanwhile, they also agreed to organise an environmental summit in Paris late this year to coincide with an annual European industry conference.
Åke Svensson of Saab led the European delegation and Clay Jones of Rockwell Collins headed the US group. Other participants included Allan Cook of Cobham and Denis Ranque of Thales on the European side, and Robert Stevens of Lockheed Martin and William Swanson of Raytheon for the USA. ASD secretary general Francois Gayet supported the European executives, while AIA president and chief executive Marion Blakey supported the US delegation.
Participants also discussed export controls and technology sharing among allies, praised steps taken earlier this year to modernise the US export control system, and agreed to work together advance the strategy with the next US presidential administration. The group also broached the subject of the "Intra-EU Transfer" initiative and the ramifications for US companies.
Source: Flight International
