US expert to share insights and issues for future with Midlands aerospace community.

A320 Air Malta

The seemingly continuous global growth in civil aerospace markets – so vital to the booming Midlands aerospace cluster – appears “impossibly perfect”, says an eminent US aviation forecaster.

Richard Aboulafia

Richard Aboulafia, vice-president of analysis for the Teal Group, warns that “current relentless growth”, especially in the airliner business, will stretch production capacity in the aerospace supply chain.

Aboulafia, one of three confirmed keynote speakers at the first annual Midland Aerospace Alliance (MAA) conference, says the industry must both invest in new capacity and skills to cope with growing demand, and continue to scan the horizon for the risks that could disrupt this environment, the timing of these ‘inflection points’, and whether the industry can eventually expect a hard or soft landing.

“Beyond the short and mid-term issues, there’s always a question-mark hanging over how long growth can continue long-term,” says Aboulafia.

‘Aerospace futures, aerospace forecasts’ is the title of the one-day conference on Wednesday, 20 February 2013 at the Rolls-Royce Learning Development Centre in Derby.

Other speakers include:

• Robin Southwell, chief executive for UK Operations of EADS NV, the European aeronautic defence and space company which owns Airbus;
• Pernille Boisen, chief procurement officer of Rolls-Royce;

“Our speakers are leaders in the industry and experts in their fields,” says MAA chief executive Andrew Mair. “They’ll be presenting the aerospace industry visions and aircraft production volumes that every aerospace supplier needs to know over the short, medium and long-term horizons that are crucial to successful business strategy and planning.

“The next two years will be pivotal for the health of our industry. Senior managers from Midlands and UK aerospace supply chain companies will find it invaluable, as will anyone who needs to understand how the aerospace business environment will evolve.”

For information on the programme and to book places at the conference, visit the MAA website here

MAA conference
Wed 20 Feb 2013
09:00 – 16:00
Rolls-Royce Learning Development Centre
Derby DE24 8BG

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