Steve Nichols
Ken Maciver, vice-president of the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), says the decision to bring Farnborough 2000 forward to July was the right one.
"Bringing the date forward should mean better weather for all, although looking at the rain we have had over recent weeks one wonders!" he says. "It is easier for people to be here at this time of year and we expect a higher level of attendance overall." Aerospace is one of the relatively small number of British industries which is competitive on a global basis and Farnborough is therefore a showcase for us all," he says. Some have questioned the wisdom of moving Farnborough to a date that clashes with the Berlin airshow but Maciver says this was not deliberate.
Attitude
"It is very, very clear that the two major shows in the world are Farnborough and Le Bourget, Paris and they have coexisted happily for some time." I think that the attitude of the major companies and where they choose to spend their money is a clear indication of what they want. I'm not saying that with any form of arrogance - that's just the way it is," he says.
Maciver says that the twin Farnborough 2000 themes of recruitment and the environment underpin the future of the industry. Many people don't find the aerospace industry an attractive one to work in, but in many ways it is a long way away from a standard industrial environment. We talk about the knowledge economy, but knowledge constitutes a lot of what we call aerospace, so it is very important to encourage people to enter this type of career," he says.
"If we do not have people of the right calibre coming through we will not maintain our technology. We are already disadvantaged with regards to the level of spending in this country and it is in our interests to tell people just what a career in aerospace really means." Issue
Maciver says that the SBAC doesn't believe that aerospace is the biggest environmental concern, but it has no intention of sheltering behind that belief. "It is an issue and there are no magic solutions," he says. "The genuine wish of the industry is to react positively to environmental issues and to minimise the effects of air transport on the environment. For years the industry has been driven to improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption, but you cannot simply ration air transport - you can't say you can only go on holiday every second year. So we must be more imaginative and work with other bodies to improve matters."
Source: Flight Daily News
