not to mention the success of Ariane etc

It is not to obscure the face, today Airbus crisis is serious. It has implications for the whole of the French industrial fabric. Of course, the aviation industry is an industry of long cycles and therefore heavily dependent on fluctuations in the global economy and air transport. It is more or less high activity periods. This time, the area of turbulence occurs in the midst of high activity. More than half of the 250 equipment manufacturers and SME members of Gifas and some 3,000 contractors are affected to varying degrees, by the problems of Airbus. Why From the perspective of commercial service development of the A380, suppliers have manufactured and funded the equipment needed for the new aircraft. To be selected by Airbus, they have made efforts on their price, invested in machine tools. They will be paid only as the A380 deliveries. Or with two years of delay. In addition, they are today with stocks of raw materials affect their cash. How to deal with current expenditure when it is not paid by the client The most vulnerable of these undertakings may disappear, thus breaking the chain of suppliers, with loss of skills and jobs. This is also endangering other French or foreign to these same companies clients. In addition, Airbus built his devices in euro-zone and aviation worldwide sales are in dollars. Therefore, the depreciation of the dollar is fraught with consequences for our industry: it translates since 2001 by a loss of competitiveness on the prices of 20 from our U.S. competitors.

This is the major concern of the Gifas, which brings together work contractors, equipment suppliers and SMEs. The Minister of transport has assured us of his support. Among the measures to be taken: the maintenance of the highest possible level of civilian R & D and refundable advance appropriations, and the implementation of a device operational for euro/dollar exchange rate variations. It must also establish emergency moratoria fiscal and social with specific accompanying measures for jobs and create a mediation to anticipate failures of companies. Finally, it must be that the profession is committed to meet payment deadlines.

These measures are all the more necessary that the fabric of subcontracting will know of profound changes in the years to come. This year, Airbus will deliver 430 aircraft and has an order book that provides work for the next five years. Air transport rose by 5 to 6 per year: This calls for new devices, the future of our industry is thus guaranteed. And, paradoxically, the simultaneous launch of several major programs (A380, A350XWB, A400M) which undermines Airbus is also a force for the future. It is today launching the aircraft which will be implemented in five years.

In turbulence, we are taking the bet that the France remains one of the world leaders in aviation and space. There are good reasons for this: Airbus continues to generate orders a pledge of the confidence of its customers. Eurocopter helicopters will equip US Army; the Rafale has managed operational commissioning; the Snecma-GE CFM56 engines power thousands of Airbus and Boeing; Dassault Aviation Falcon business jets are internationally appreciated. not to mention the success of Ariane, etc.

The profession is now mobilized to help Airbus, but it must also strengthen the future. The R & D funding and the workload of our offices to design devices of tomorrow are our major concern. It must also be one of the State. Today, we spend 5 billion annually in R & D, a considerable sum (17 of our turnover) than the industrial Fund for half. In fifteen years, the State R & d credits decreased by 50. Efforts have been made to reverse this trend, but more is needed. It is our future. We have the means to overcome this crisis, one must be vigilant in the application of solutions to resolve, but I have confidence in the mobilization and everyone's efforts to achieve this.