NEWS
Immediate Release
30 March, 2004 |
Contact: Rob Kulat
Kulat Communications
+732-219-5816
KuComm@Hotmail.com |
AEROSPACE LEADERS SET COURSE ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION,
A LEANER SUPPLY CHAIN AND MANAGING MAJOR PROGRAMS AT AVIATION WEEK'S TOULOUSE SYMPOSIUM
Executives From 17 Countries Meet to Share Vision, Strategies On Globalization
Aviation Week & Space Technology Editorial Cites a Shift in Global Aerospace Dominance
NEW YORK, NY - The 2004 Toulouse Symposium, AVIATION WEEK's global forum convened in mid-March, brought together top aerospace, aviation and space executives to forge greater international cooperation and solve existing challenges facing major programs, and has continued its tradition as the leading, high-level international gathering in the industry.
Of the 225 attendees representing 17 countries, over 30 were company CEOs who met as the industry looks towards world GDP growth, a rise in defense spending, and increased airline traffic to help lift it out of recession. The two-day forum on major trends and international cooperation on major aerospace programs had a special emphasis on supply chain management.
"The annual Toulouse Symposium has developed into an industry 'think tank' where the best and brightest can freely discuss trends, ideas and challenges all with the goal of strengthening the global aerospace industry," said AVIATION WEEK Executive Vice President/Publisher Kenneth E. Gazzola. "Globalization and outsourcing are here to stay, and companies attending the Toulouse Symposium are developing new tools and methodologies to maintain quality throughout an extended global supply chain. Increasingly, this is viewed not just as a source of less expensive parts, but also as an opportunity to create partnerships and access markets."
Aviation Week & Space Technology Editor-In-Chief Tony Velocci, in a 29 March editorial, believes the European aerospace industry's focus on cooperative globalization will lead to greater success, warning U.S. aerospace companies that it would be a mistake to believe the European sector has reached it's zenith. Velocci writes, "The transformation of Europe's aerospace and defense industry is far from complete. In fact, it probably hasn't even hit its stride. More to the point, it is entirely possible that what we have been witnessing in recent years is nothing less than a shift in the balance of power in global aviation--a shift that may extend to aerospace and defense. To put it another way, if the 20th century was the era of American dominance of aviation in the broadest sense, the 21st century could belong to Europe."
The Toulouse Symposium resulted in several major themes, including:
In addition to Mr. Velocci's editorial, other reports from Toulouse in AW&ST include an update on the A380 roll out just 10 months away, and Southwest France's link between prosperity and aerospace, attracting new investors into the region through globalization. These stories and more are available at www.AviationNow.com.
The AVIATION WEEK-Toulouse Symposium was produced in partnership with Airbus, Alcatel Space, EADS Astrium, and supported by the City of Toulouse, the Regional Council of Midi Pyrénées, the General Council of Haute Garonne and the Toulouse Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
About AVIATION WEEK
AVIATION WEEK Conferences & Exhibitions is the professional education and events arm of the AVIATION WEEK division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. With nearly 50 products and services and an audience of more than 1 million professionals and enthusiasts, AVIATION WEEK is the largest multimedia information provider to the global aviation and aerospace industry. Its web portal, www.AviationNow.com, offers the industry's most reliable and comprehensive real-time news, professional information and e-business features.
About McGraw-Hill
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill Education. The Corporation has more than 322 offices in 33 countries. Sales in 2003 were $4.8 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com
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