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Opening Farnborough International Air Show

The Rt. Hon. John Hutton MP,  Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
Farnborough, Kent,  14 July 2008

Honoured guests, visitors and exhibitors, I am incredibly honoured to be here today to open the 2008 Farnborough International Air Show.

As Allan said, not only is this Farnborough’s 60th birthday, but this year also marks the 100th anniversary of the first-ever powered flight - which took place here, on October 16 1908.

American Samuel Cody – a former cowboy and gold prospector – flew 1309 feet from this site.

As we all know, those 27 seconds he spent in the air transformed the history of the 20th century and continue to shape the global economy. It created an industry, which is today worth over £200 billion world-wide. That in the UK alone generates £20 billion per year and employs more than 124,000 people.

And in the last sixty years, Farnborough Air Show has grown to become the number one event for this global sector.

Giving aerospace and aviation companies from across the world an exclusive platform on which to promote their products and services to an international audience.

During the next seven days, it will play host to over 1,480 companies, from 35 separate countries and will welcome an anticipated 270,000 visitors and nearly 2,000 media representatives.

And I want to welcome all of those people participating in this year’s event.

Because while Mr Cody’s momentous achievement in simply getting off the ground changed the last one hundred years irrevocably, each of us today, I believe, must play a part to make powered flight an equally important contributor to British and global success over the next hundred years.

The aerospace industry will remain central to the British economy – and to our future as a hi-tech manufacturing nation.

Last year, we saw a large number of orders signed at Farnborough. And I hope to see another strong set of orders and announcements this year as well.

Everywhere you look in this massive venue, you’ll find some of the world’s best design and manufacturing, technology and engineering in use - all building on the ambition of the 50 horsepower Antoinette engine and twin chain-driven propellers that powered Samuel Cody’s first flight.

Just this morning, I’ve had a chance to see a few of the brilliant advances being exhibited. From giant civil aircraft - a fantastic achievement, the A380 on the ground here, and the Eurofighter Typhoon – another fantastic engineering product, to military helicopters and unmanned reconnaissance planes.

I’m proud to say that everywhere I look today, I have found examples of the world-leading skills and expertise of the UK’s aerospace industry, and its strong, valuable partnerships with other leading European and international companies.

This, I think, is evident in the design and build of the A380, which - following its debut at the 2006 show - is set again to become one of Farnborough’s biggest attractions this year. And we all can understand why.

In total around 40% of the content of these planes come from UK businesses, and some 400 UK companies supplying equipment to the A380 programme. You’ve done a brilliant job.

This includes Airbus at Filton and Broughton, Rolls Royce and Messier Dowty, who working together with global partners have helped design and build this fantastic aircraft.

The level of progress represented by the A380 – and the prosperity and jobs it creates right across the UK – has brought home to me why it is so critical that Britain remains a cutting edge manufacturing nation in to the decades ahead.

And I want British companies to be equally central in creating the next great aircraft, and the one after that. That is why government is renewing our manufacturing strategy for the UK.

Which brings me on to the scale of the ambition that both the industry and government must have in coming years. Ensuring air travel continues to flourish sustainably into the future will mean overcoming a new environmental and economic challenge, perhaps, as great as learning to fly for the first time.

Much progress has already been made with the environmentally friendly engine in the A380.

It helps ensure that this revolutionary plane will use 20% less fuel and will fly more quietly, more cheaply and more efficiently.

Achieving a sustainable balance between economic, social and environmental concerns is essential to the continued success of every business, in this new century.

And the global imperative to cut carbon emissions coincides with rising global oil prices now to create, I think, an overwhelming need for a new revolution in aircraft efficiency.

In the short-term, the UK is taking an international lead to help ease the pressure, if we can, of soaring fuel costs. Working with oil producers and consumers to help reform the global system of oil production, and secure commitments to increase production and invest in new capacity, which we’ll need to ensure the security of future supplies.

But the only truly effective way to protect companies from future oil price rises, as well as successfully tackle the global challenge of climate change – is obviously to become more energy efficient and to enable, as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible, the world’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

In the UK too, I want UK businesses to be at the forefront of making this low-carbon revolution happen.

Much of the focus, research and innovation now being directed to these challenges is on display throughout this week.

Because we understand the importance of air travel to the British economy, my pledge to you is that we will continue to show leadership and commitment in advancing the sustainable aviation agenda.

We will help make flying greener rather than restricting people’s opportunities to fly altogether.

So we will take the necessary decisions on airport expansion to ensure the UK has the transport infrastructure it needs to continue to attract business from across the globe.

British businesses, and ultimately the British people, would not forgive us if we shirked our responsibility to do what’s right because we wanted an easy ride from some of the pressure groups.

We will also guarantee the strong base of high-level skills, so critical to your industry and our continued prosperity and security as a nation.

And your ‘International Youth Day’ will promote the importance of skills and development for those now entering the industry. So they can look forward to the sort of career that Mike Turner has enjoyed with such distinction.

And Government is working with business and organisations - including the Sector Skills Councils and National Skills Academies - to ensure the UK aerospace industry has the skilled experts and professionals, from graduates to apprentices, it needs.

Conclusion

Let me close by saying I wish every success to those taking part in and visiting the Farnborough Air Show this week.

Over the last 60 years, its profile and scale has helped not only boost the local community, but in the aerospace industry has also helped to sharpen the UK’s competitive-edge and world-beating experience. Long may it continue.

It was the great American World War One pilot, Edward Rickenbacker who said, “Aviation is proof that given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible.”

The technology and skills, innovation and enterprise on show here today, prove beyond any shadow of doubt the truth of what Eddie said nearly 100 years ago.

And will help this great industry adapt to the challenges ahead and grow in the UK and beyond, for generations to come.

Thank you.

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