Insights From Aerospace & Defense Leaders

Airbus’ transformation looks set to touch every part of the group. The helicopters business has already had to take major steps to adapt to the shifting winds of the rotorcraft market. In stark contrast to the commercial airliner business, with its burgeoning backlogs and prodigious production rates, at least up to the pandemic, the rotorcraft segment has been in something of a rut for nearly a decade.

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Credit: D. Bond/Airbus Helicopters

The 2021 SpeedNews Commercial Aviation Industry Supplier Conference in LA this month provided many executives and advisors the first opportunity to gather again since COVID-19 shut down the sector a year before. Aviation Week Business Editor Michael Bruno talks with Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group, Ron Epstein of Bank of America and Kevin Michaels of AeroDynamic Advisory about the state of industry, the future, and the past.

Listen in to the discussion.

Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun spoke with Aviation Week editors Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris and Sean Broderick about the company’s path forward through numerous challenges.

See what he had to say. 

Credit: Boeing

Almost exactly one year ago, Arjan Meijer, 48, was named the new president and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation. He could not have taken the job at a more difficult time: in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and just after Boeing had walked away from a deal to buy Embraer’s commercial aircraft business. Nonetheless, he is hopeful demand for orders will return soon as new projects are launched. Meijer sat down with Aviation Week’s Executive Editor for Commercial Aviation Jens Flottau to discuss the company’s technological innovations.

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Credit: Embraer

As Alessandro Profumo marks his fourth year as chief executive of Italy-based aerospace and defense group Leonardo, he talks to London Bureau Chief Tony Osborne about the future of European defense spending, the impact of initiatives supported by the European Union, some of the company’s key business areas including defense electronics and helicopters, and Leonardo’s significant presence in the UK.

See the full interview. 

Credit: Leonardo

Eric Beranger is marking his second year as chief executive of European missile manufacturer MBDA, having joined the company from satellite communications company OneWeb in June 2019. In his first interview with an English-speaking trade publication, Beranger tells Aviation Week London Bureau Chief Tony Osborne how MBDA has grown its backlog and expanded its portfolio during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the highlights of what he had to say.

Credit: Mourad-Cherfi/MBDA

Before his retirement on June 30, NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt shares insights into some key things that would make the aviation industry safer—and how to do it.

Listen in to the discussion.