Communications

17.07 - 23.07.2006

Visit the web site:  www.farnborough2006.finmeccanica.it

Just eight days ago, stand fitters, technicians, light and sound engineers, graphic artists and electricians were working frantically on the two floors of the Finmeccanica Pavilion to get everything ready for the official opening of the 45th edition of the Farnborough International Airshow 2006. In the half light of dusk, the outline of the Pavilion was illuminated from inside by spotlights and mega-screens all under test in a sort of dress rehearsal. It was a truly futuristic scenario - a UFO which had apparently landed in the English countryside on a quiet summer's evening. An optical illusion perhaps, but also a sign of things to come, because a few hours later that strange object would really recount the future, with images, videos, graphic displays, prototypes and full-scale models of the Finmeccanica Group's products and systems.

The stand (2,830 sqm) and the static display area (6,000 sqm) hosted displays by Alenia Aermacchi, AgustaWestland, Alenia Aeronautica, Alcatel Alenia Space, Galileo Avionica, Elsag, Datamat , SELEX Communications, SELEX Sistemi Integrati, SELEX Sensors & Airborne Systems, SELEX Service Management, and Telespazio. The exhibits included the very best of their production together with the innovative technological solutions which place Finmeccanica amongst the key players in the world's aerospace and defence sectors.

One of the main aims of the pavilion's design was to convey the idea of Finmeccanica's three key value statements - internationalization, integration and innovation. This led to three macro-areas: "everywhere in the world" (internationalization), "everywhere in the future" (innovation) and "everywhere for protection" (integration), as well as a dedicated area for Finmeccanica's UK assets (our second domestic market) and the displays by individual companies.

This year's static display area was a particularly good demonstration of the Group's mission. The aircraft and the technological features on display fully expressed the innovatory dimension, the integration of skills and know-how, and Finmeccanica's presence in leading international programmes. The display included aircraft produced by AgustaWestland (EH101, A119, AW139, A109 Grand, A109LUH, A129 and LYNX), Alenia Aermacchi (M311 and M346), Alenia Aeronautica (C-27J, Eurofighter, Sky-X) and ATR (ATR42 MP), the Falco (pilotless system for tactical and surveillance missions) and the MIRACH/100 (multi-role system for simulating airborne threats) from Galileo Avionica, the FADR from SELEX Sistemi Integrati (military radar for ground warning), the Xcalibur from SELEX Communications (continuity system for communications in emergency situations) and the Mobile Surveillance Unit (border surveillance system).

Many Italian and foreign delegations visited the Finmeccanica stand, chalet and static area during the seven days of the Airshow. Italian guests included: the President of the Senate, Hon. Franco Marini, and the Vice-president, Hon. Mario Baccini, Ministers Arturo Parisi (Defence) and Alessandro Bianchi (Transport), Hon. Sergio De Gregorio, President of the Senate Defence Commission, Hon. Luigi Ramponi, Member of the Senate Defence Commission, Hon. Roberta Pinotti, President of the Chamber of Deputies' Defence Commission, Senator Giovanni Lorenzo Forcieri, Undersecretary of State for Defence, Hon. Alfonso Gianni, Undersecretary for Economic Development, Guido Bertolaso, head of Italian Civil Protection Department, Ambassador Maurizio Moreno, Ambassador and Permanent Representative for Italy at the Atlantic Council, Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, Chief of Defence Staff, General Gianni Botondi, secretary general of Defence and National Armaments Director of Italy, General S.A. Leonardo Tricarico, Chief of Air Force Staff, General S.A. Vincenzo Camporini, President of the Advanced Defence Studies Centre, General Inspector Nazzareno Cardinali, Director of OCCAR.
Foreign authorities who visited the Pavilion included Hon. Jacques Barrot , vice-president of the European Commission for transport; Lord Drayson , UK Minister for Procurement; Hon. Kenneth Krieg, Undersecretary for US Defense; Margaret Hodge, UK Minister for Commerce and Industry; Adam Ingram, Undersecretary for UK Defence; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Prince Michael of Kent; Hon. Jebb Bush, Governor of Florida; and Hon. Claude Bolton, assistant to US Defense Secretary. 

A particular visit deserves special mention. On Thursday July 20, an RAF Merlin MAK 3 (produced by AgustaWestland) landed at Farnborough carrying the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who was welcomed by Finmeccanica President-CEO, Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, and by External Relations Director, Lorenzo Borgogni. During his visit, the Prime Minister met a small delegation of British defence companies including Finmeccanica UK.

Amongst the foreign delegations who visited the Pavilion were institutional representatives from Turkey, China, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Japan, Syria and Malaysia. In particular, the Malaysian delegation took advantage of the occasion to set up an agreement with the Italian Transport Ministry regarding flying rights.

On Tuesday July 18, many of Finmeccanica's guests attended a gala reception at the National Gallery in Central London. This was a truly unique scenario in which to present a rare work by Leonardo da Vinci - his preparatory drawing for the "Adoration of the Magi" - which was on display for the first time. The person behind the scientific study of this drawing is Maurizio Seracini , engineer and art expert. His erudite talk on the subject showed how Leonardo's creative approach to the "Adoration" is reflected in the exceptional quality of his preparatory drawing, which we can now appreciate to the full, thanks to state-of-the-art scientific analysis.

From the first to the last day, Finmeccanica's presence at the Airshow was recounted via a dedicated Web TV channel at the following address:

www.farnborough2006.finmeccanica.it/Exhibitions/EN/Farnborough06/WebTV

Throughout the Airshow, this channel covered the main events, foreign and Italian delegations, press conferences, institutional ceremonies, announcements made by top management and, more in general, the whole of the Airshow - a major international showcase for aerospace excellence, and a meeting point and platform for the sector's leading decision-makers.

For Finmeccanica, the seven days of the Airshow were devoted to presenting innovation, integration and internationalization on the world stage - the three major value statements which have become an integral part of our Group.

Visit the galleries:

Photo Gallery Farnborough 2006

The making of