Aluminium is the staple component of the aerospace industry, and Alcoa is the world's biggest maker of it. With consolidation in the world aluminium industry, Alcoa has grown ahead of the pack, refocused its operations on six "market-led" areas and beefed up its aerospace presence. Pat Hassey, newly appointed head of Alcoa's aerospace business, talks to Mike Martin.
Q Please outline Alcoa's presence at Paris and the themes you are presenting.
A It's our largest presence at any show and the reason for that is that we have significantly expanded our aerospace business. We have not done a good job in presenting ourselves as an aerospace company in the past, and many people still do not appreciate the scale of our aerospace business. Alcoa is a major aerospace company. Also, we see significant passenger growth driving the aerospace business forward. Add to this the huge importance of Airbus and the fact that we, as a company, have undergone significant change, and we decided that Paris was the right place to field a major presence.
Q Explain the changes in Alcoa.
A We have restructured the company and created a number of market sector lead teams, of which aerospace is one. The company looked at its business and the way it was organised globally. We felt that our ability to better service our markets and develop a coherent strategy to address customer needs depended on significant change. So at Paris we are emphasising how, as a company, we have gone much further than our competitors in moving downstream in the aerospace business.
Q What is the Alcoa perspective on prospects for the aerospace industry?
A Aerospace is a truly great growth market for Alcoa - it is growing at twice the rate of world GDP levels. We recognise a need for something like 18,000 new aircraft in the next 10 years. Look at the emerging Asia market, especially China, and the huge growth prospects. We are well positioned to take advantage of this, excelling in product development. We have a long pedigree, offering technical excellence and advancement to the aerospace industry going back to 1903.
Q Your products flew on the Kitty Hawk in 1903. Explain your likely role in the planned replica and its flight scheduled for the centenary in 2003.
A They want to build an authentic replica. We have been asked to replicate the metallurgy that went into the pistons in the original aircraft. We don't know where the blueprints are, but we are taking a hard look at the Alcoa resource centre. We'll do our best.
Q Your bullish stand in aerospace suggests that you have more than weathered the competition once threatened from composite materials.
A We have and the reasons include that fact that we have made significant advances in metal-based aircraft. We can offer greater strength, less weight and greater corrosion resistance. We are approaching the strength of steel with some of our alloys. We offer a very competitive package of economics to the people who build aircraft. Composites may be technically advanced but the cost of a small installed [manufacturing] base and certain safety factors that ultimately add to the weight, aluminium usually wins. Aluminium compares favourably in terms of performance and most favourably in terms of cost.
Q What are your hopes for the Airbus A380?
A We are optimistic that we will have another opportunity to demonstrate our technology on an Airbus aircraft programme. We have developed a new generation of advanced materials, and a new generation of fixing systems, both of which will save weight. It¹s a combination that working together will create a sum greater than the parts.
Q Do you believe there will be a significant role for aluminium in Boeing's planned Sonic Cruiser?
A My understanding is that this is an aircraft in the early design stage and that a detailed specification has yet to be finalised. I certainly hope that in due course we will participate with Boeing in creating new materials. What is clear is that whatever the final shape of the models Boeing opts for, they must compete with other aircraft. To me the economic conclusion is that the aircraft will contain a significant proportion of alumunium. I would say that in 24 months I could give a clearer answer.
Source: Flight Daily News
