Aerospace & Defence Industries Association of Europe, LE BOURGET, France: European aerospace and defence industry leaders backed an initiative by their American counterparts to modernize the U.S. export control system Tuesday, saying improvements are needed to increase security and trade on both sides of the Atlantic.
In a meeting of the chief executive officers of U.S. and European aerospace companies during the International Paris Air Show, the leaders agreed first that export controls are necessary to protect national sovereignty and security. Modernizing the U.S. system to make it more predictable, transparent, and efficient would boost trans-Atlantic trade, cooperation, and interoperability among friends and allies.
The leaders also agreed that improving the ecological impact of aviation is an important goal for the global aerospace industry. Increased cooperation between the U.S. and Europe is vital to success. Future meetings are planned to coordinate plans and policy on the environment.
One way to lessen aviation’s effect on the environment is to modernize air transportation systems in Europe and the U.S. to lessen flight delays and reduce fuel burning, they said. Another important goal is to continue making new aircraft more fuel efficient and otherwise environmentally friendly.
William H. Swanson of Raytheon Company and Charles Edelstenne of Dassault Aviation led their respective groups at the dialogue, an annual meeting between the leadership of the Aerospace Industries Association of America and AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe.
Other executives taking part were Thomas Enders of EADS and Åke Svensson of Saab Aerospace on the European side and Northrop Grumman’s Ronald D. Sugar, Rockwell Collins’ Clay Jones, and BAE Systems Inc.’s Walt Havenstein on the U.S side.
This year’s topics reflect the increasingly global and interdependent nature of the aerospace and defense industry. The discussion also yielded an agreement to share best practices in business ethics and extend their adoption worldwide. The leaders also talked about the need to develop a more equitable and fair application of fees and charges by the European Aviation Safety Agency.
“It is clear we have much in common with our friends in Europe on these important issues,” AIA President and CEO John Douglass said. “I anticipate us working in close cooperation going forward.”
“As our companies increasingly compete and cooperate in each other’s markets, it becomes that much more important to develop common ground,” added François Gayet, ASD secretary general. “I am very glad we are increasing our cooperation on these important issues.”
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