The show does not normally attract IT suppliers, but Hewlett-Packard is an exception. The Californian computing giant is using the air show to raise its profile among airlines and aerospace manufacturers.
Art Prangley, director for aerospace industry enterprise business, reckons HP is already working with most of the companies displaying at the show.
Clients include major airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic. Among the aerospace manufacturers it has worked with are BAE Systems, Boeing, EADS, Finmeccanica, Lockheed Martin and Rolls-Royce.
"We provide the foundation of IT they run on," says Prangley. "In some cases we run their SAP environments, we run their engineering environment. In some cases they have outsourced to us. We supply all the IT building blocks."
HP has also pursued partnerships with aerospace manufacturers to bid for projects in areas ranging from homeland security to cyber-security.
It can cover everything from "stamping out a new plant" to implementing and running IT systems or data centres for aerospace companies as they expand. "We have done that a couple of times in the Asia-Pacific," says Prangley.
The computing power of HP can also be deployed to help aerospace manufacturers model composite materials and aircraft designs.
HP expects big opportunities for IT work as the airline industry continues its trend to merge and consolidate, creating a need for harmonised systems to ensure consistent customer service.
The company has won systems integration deals in the past, for example when American Airlines bought TWA in 2001.
Prangley is adamant that it is vital for HP to have a presence at the show. "It's important that we be here; it's important that we understand what drives the issues," he says.
- All the latest news, video and images from the 2010 Farnborough air show - New this year, live streaming video of each day's flying display
Source: Flight Daily News
