Alenia Aeronautica continues to grow revenues and profitability, and the trend will remain on an upward curve until 2010, says chief executive officer Giovanni Bertolone.
This has been achieved against a background of a weak US Dollar and delays to the Boeing 787 programme. “Projected annual growth of 15% will be slightly slowed for the 2009-10 period because of the announced delay in the production rate ramp-up of the 787, for which we provide the longest composite fuselage sections and the horizontal stabiliser through our Grottaglie and Foggia facilities,” Bertolone says. “But we are confident we can compensate for this, both in terms of revenues and profits, thanks to our growing military business.”
In the civil business, which is expected to continue growing despite the US slowdown, Alenia has demonstrated its capabilities as a risk-sharing partner in advanced programmes. “The Grottaglie and Foggia plants have successfully delivered the first production 787 fuselage sections and horizontal stabilizers without defects, confirming the highly innovative and automated industrial processes validity,” says Bertolone.
“At the end of June, Alenia delivered the first totally completed fuselage section adding another milestone in this highly challenging and complex programme.”
In addition to components deliveries for the Boeing 767, 777 and 787, Alenia is also working on the Airbus A380, A321 and A340, as well as Dassault Aviation Falcon 200 and 900EX. “Alenia is also looking to win a work package on the Airbus A350XWB, but this will be subject to Finmeccanica and Airbus negotiations.”
In the military business, Alenia is selling its own model ranges, including the C-27J, M-346 and ATR-42MP/ATR-72ASW, as well as supporting Eurofighter in the Typhoon campaign. “We are confident of reaching an agreement on Tranche 3 of the Eurofighter programme by the year-end, while on the export market Alenia is guiding the promotional and selling campaigns in Romania, Turkey and more recently Brazil, and actively supporting BAE Systems in Japan.”
After winning the US JCA programme with C-27J, Alenia has just flown the first aircraft for the US Army at its Turin Caselle facility. “This year, we signed a contract with the US DoD for four additional aircraft”, says Bertolone, who is also confident he can find in a short-term alternative solution for aircraft assembly in US after the collapse of negotiations with Boeing.
“In the meantime, we can accept the US production workload without delays at our Italian facilities, alongside deliveries to the six other C-27J customers. However an assembly line in US continues to be a target for us. A decision will be taken soon.”
Bertolone is also confident of signing a contract with the Italian air force for the M-346 trainer, for 15 aircraft to be delivered before the end of 2010. In the meantime, the M-346 is participating in the UAE tender, having been shortlisted and operationally tested last year, in addition to the sales campaign in Singapore.
Alenia is also taking part in the JSF programme, supplying major wing components, leading progressively to the delivery of complete wings by 2010. Bertolone also expects a decision on the Italian final assembly and check out (FACO) to be taken this year, with deliveries starting 2014.
Alenia is at the forefront in unmanned advanced operational, research and demonstrator platforms, including Neuron, Sky-X and Sky-Y. The last two are currently being flight tested. They feature fully automatic mission management; formation flying capability; diesel engine powerplants; and long endurance capability. In addition to the international initiative in the MALE segment with Dassault and Saab, Finmeccamica is looking to expand co-operation in the UAV business in other world’s areas.
Alenia Aeronautica is also working to completely restructure its Aeronavali subsidiary, which is suffering as a result of the highly competitive aircraft modification and maintenance market. “According to the plan, which became effective at the start of July, Aeronavali’s Capodichino facilities will be converted to C-27J components production, with a new integrated logistics centre for the tactical aircraft and a new business which will come from G-222 refurbishment.
The special-missions ATR activities and the E-3A AWACS overhaul and maintenance will be transferred to Brindisi, while the Venice facilities will maintain the Aeronavali logo and continue its modification, overhaul and maintenance activities business, ensuring it will be able to compete on the market.”
However, part of Venice facilities and personnel will be absorbed by SuperJet International and by the new AgustaWestland NH-90 assembly, which will be transferred from Vergiate.
Source: Flight International
