Airbus executive foresees optimum jet deliveries, expansion in U.S.
By David Bowermaster
Seattle Times aerospace reporter
STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Philippe Camus, co-CEO of Airbus parent EADS, speaks in Seattle yesterday.
The leader of Boeing's European rival made a rare visit to Seattle yesterday and reaffirmed his belief Airbus will deliver 300 jets in both 2002 and 2003, even though some aerospace analysts predict as few as 250 airplanes will roll out of Boeing factories next year.
Philippe Camus, co-chief executive of the European Aeronautic Defence & Space, the parent company of Airbus, also said EADS is evaluating sites for a Mississippi factory that will customize European-built helicopters for the U.S. Coast Guard, and the company is looking for other ways to expand its industrial footprint in this country.
This is something we have decided to do, Camus said. Now the organization is evaluating opportunities.
The Mississippi plant will employ more than 100 people, Camus said. The helicopter work is part of a multibillion dollar program to modernize Coast Guard ships, aircraft and communications. EADS is a member of a Lockheed Martin-led team that beat Boeing for the contract.
Camus' visit was the final leg of a brief West Coast tour during which he called for greater trans-Atlantic aerospace cooperation and improved foreign access to the U.S. defense market.
EADS was formed three years ago through the merger of three of Europe's largest aerospace companies: Aerospatiale Matra of France; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace of Germ- any; and CASA of Spain — formerly government-owned ventures that have been privatized in recent years.
The government of France still owns 15 percent of EADS, and the government of Spain owns another 5 percent. DaimlerChrysler is the largest shareholder, with 30 percent of the company. EADS shares trade publicly on European stock exchanges, but not in the U.S.
EADS owns 80 percent of Airbus; BAE Systems of England owns the remaining 20 percent.
Camus, 54, came to EADS from Aerospatiale, where he was chairman and CEO. Rainier Hertrich, formerly of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, is his co-CEO at EADS.
Discussing the troubled airline industry, Camus said even if some customers delay or cancel orders, Airbus has enough cushion to hit its 2003 delivery target.
We have in the order book already confirmed orders for 2003 for more than 300 aircraft, so we are not just dreaming about potential orders, Camus said.
He also dismissed persistent assertions that EADS — and, by extension, Airbus — is a tool of European governments.
We are reporting (our results) completely like any other listed company, he said.
There is no relation between the governments and EADS that would be different than the relationship between the U.S. government and Boeing.
Camus hopes to generate more support for EADS by reminding people of the company's already substantial relationship with the U.S. EADS purchases $6 billion of goods each year from U.S. suppliers.
We are already a major player in the U.S. economy, he said. That is something we have to reinforce.