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July 19, 2010 Q&A

Role At UK Air Show Pays For CT Business

Q&A talks with Wayne M. Sumple, program manager for the manufacturing and supply chain initiative at Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc.

Q: The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc. (CCAT), The Department of Economic and Community Development, CL&P and Yankee Gas are bringing the State of Connecticut exhibit to the 2010 Farnborough Air Show July 19-25.What is the Farnborough Air Show and why is it important to be there?

A: The Farnborough Air Show, held outside London, England, is one of the largest and most prestigious air shows in the world. Over 250,000 visitors will attend the show over a seven-day period. More than 1,500 aerospace companies will exhibit their products and services. Every global aerospace company like Boeing, Rolls Royce, United Technologies, General Electric and SNECMA will be there. The show is more than 60 years old. It’s the place to be if you’re in the aerospace industry to meet with new and existing customers.

 

Q: How much of an investment does the state need to make in a show like this? Have there been quantifiable returns?

A: The cost of purchasing space at the show and building the exhibit is around $250,000. This year, the State of Connecticut, CCAT, CL&P and Yankee Gas picked up approximately half of that cost. The exhibiting companies contributed the other half. The show has been extremely successful in terms of return on investment. Over just the past two shows, the exhibiting Connecticut companies told us they expect $17 million in business because of the contacts they made at the show. These new business opportunities stimulate the Connecticut economy by allowing the companies to create new jobs, purchase machinery and equipment, and/or expand their facilities. I know of two multi-million-dollar contracts awarded to past exhibitors and a number of smaller contracts.

 

Q: How many companies from Connecticut will take part in this year’s show?

 A: This is our fifth year going to international air shows. We started with five companies going to the 2006 Farnborough Show. We will take 18 companies this year. On even years, the air show is at Farnborough in the UK. On odd years it is at Le Bourget in France. The Le Bourget show is actually slightly larger than the Farnborough show.

 

Q: Why does the state and its partners need to help promote these industries? Why can’t the businesses do this on their own?

A: The State of Connecticut, CCAT, CL&P and Yankee Gas want to support these companies because the aerospace industry is huge in Connecticut. It is a key driver of Connecticut’s economy. There are more than 1,000 companies in the aerospace supply chain in Connecticut. Most of these are small companies with less than 100 employees and small businesses create up to 80 percent of the jobs in Connecticut. These are the companies that make parts and provide services to the larger original equipment manufacturers — OEMs — like Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, Unison, Hamilton Sundstrand, Senior Aerospace, Airbus, Boeing, and Barnes Aerospace. Connecticut is in the unique position of having its aerospace supply chain and OEMs in the same area, working together. Historically, Connecticut’s aerospace industry was organically grown. The OEMs followed the supply chain and superior workforce to Connecticut in the 1920’s. We need to nurture and expand this supply chain workforce for purposes of keeping the larger equipment manufacturers in the state.

 

Q: What are the long-term prospects for the aerospace industry? How are Connecticut companies in this field doing during the economic downturn?

A: The Aerospace & Defense sector has historically been cyclical, driven by economic and political influences. For example, there are plans to halt production of the F-22 fighter. This will impact many small aerospace manufacturers around the world, including Connecticut. To remain competitive through the downturn, aerospace manufacturers need to be vigilant about productivity improvement and market expansion efforts; many Connecticut manufacturers have benefited from these types of assistance that have helped them grow their businesses. Connecticut’s largest OEM’s (Sikorsky, Pratt & Whitney and Hamilton Sundstrand) will utilize defense spending for continued growth and sustainability as the war business continues to stay strong in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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