Additional aeronautics funding needed to reach Vision 2020 goals, warns AECMA secretary general
The secretary general of the European Association of Aerospace Industries (AECMA), has warned that a higher aeronautics budget than proposed is necessary in the next Framework Programme (FP6) if the industry is achieve goals set out in the Vision 2020 report. Roger W. Hawksworth made his prediction at the first meeting of the European Parliament's Sky and Space Intergroup on 5 September. The Vision 2020 report was compiled by key figures in the aeronautics field at the request of Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. It sets out a vision of aeronautics as the authors believe it can, should and will be in the year 2020. Mr Hawksworth stressed the need for a sufficient budget for aeronautics in FP6, which he said should amount to at least 1.5 billion euro, a 50 per cent increase on the one billion euro budget proposed by the European Commission. 'This is inadequate,' Mr Hawksworth said. He argued that European aerospace contributes significantly to employment and wealth in Europe, and therefore requires a budget that allows appropriate levels of research in the segments of large, regional and small civil aircraft and rotorcraft. MEP Gérard Caudron responded by acknowledging that aeronautics is a 'key plank' in FP6, but stressed that the European Parliament faces obvious restraints in the overall budget available for FP6. He said MEPs must decide very carefully which areas this should be allocated to. The Parliament is expected to reach a decision on this issue in the near future. Jack Metthey, acting director for the Fifth Framework Programme's (FP5's) 'Competitive and sustainable growth' programme, said that 'Aeronautics, as a priority area in the Sixth EU Framework Programme for research, will both strengthen the competitiveness of the industry and increase the quality of life of people.' He said a higher quality of life would be achieved through improvements in the overall air transport system, further reductions of the environmental impact of aircraft such as noise and pollution, and enhanced safety. The Sky and Space Intergroup was created in July 2001 following interest shown by many MEPs in aerospace issues. The group aims to provide interested MEPs with complete and open information about aerospace topics and to establish a comprehensive dialogue about aerospace topics between the various political groups represented in the Parliament.