DB: Where are you?
DO: At the Farnborough International Air Show in England. It’s a biennial event, and one of the largest aerospace and defense trade shows in the world.
DB: What’s the show like?
DO: We have several clients here. It’s a great opportunity to learn about pioneering technologies in aerospace and defense. What strikes me the most — aside from an impressive display of aerospace offerings for both commercial and defense applications — is the level of participation. There are hundreds and hundreds of exhibits. There are ad hoc conference rooms for meetings that take place between OEMs, suppliers, service providers, and others. And there’s billions of dollars in deals being done.
DB: Are Michigan firms represented?
DO: Yes. Michigan is one of the leading manufacturing states in America, and there are dozens and dozens of metro Detroit aerospace businesses that manufacture parts or components, as well as other companies that service the industry. It’s often overlooked in relation to the auto industry, but there has been increasingly significant investment in aerospace.
DB: Will aerospace continue to grow?
DO: Yes. Even traditional auto companies have expanded their expertise to include aerospace and defense. In addition, the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturing Association and others are working to bring low earth orbit space launches to northern Michigan. These so-called space ports will provide the opportunity to launch satellites into low earth orbit for commercial or defense applications. — R.J. King
