In 1985, the U.S. aerospace industry achieved a $13.1 billion trade surplus and contributed $89.2 billion in shipments to the U.S. economy. Without·aerospace, the U.S. trade balance in high technology industries would--for the first time--have fallen into a deficit. Civil aircraft play a significant role in the U.S. aerospace industry, and U.S. civil aircraft have dominated world markets (particularly the large transport segment) since the development of jet engine aircraft in the 1950s. This dominance has recently been challenged by the emergence of the European Airbus Industrie, which has achieved a significant market position in wide-body aircraft and appears committed to the development of a diversified family of civil aircraft. Industry observers are also concerned about the possibility of Japan entering the large transport competition. In this assessment, the U.S. Department of Commerce examines the prospects for continued international competitiveness of U.S. civil aircraft. The report identifies key factors that will determine the shape of future competition, develops alternative scenarios for the future, and presents-a framework within which developments can be monitored and measured.

1.: INTRODUCTION 2.: EVOLUTION OF THE U.S. CIVIL AVIATION INDUSTRY AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 3.: TECHNOLOGICAL AND PERFORMANCE EVOLUTION OF THE U.S. CIVIL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY 4.: RECENT INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE 5.: PAST AND CURRENT COMPETITIVENESS: LARGE TRANSPORTS 6.: THE ECONOMICS OF LARGE TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION AND OPERATION IN THE UNITED STATES 7.: TRENDS AND FORCES INFLUENCING THE FUTURE: U.S. LARGE TRANSPORTS 8.: THE FUTURE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS OF U.S. LARGE TRANSPORTS: CONVENTIONAL ECONOMICS OF LARGE TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION 9.: THE FUTURE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS OF U.S. LARGE TRANSPORTS: A NEW ECONOMICS BASED ON SUPERCOMPUTERS, SUPERSOFTWARE AND COMPUTER-INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING 10.: THE FUTURE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS OF U.S. GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS.

This book provides a state-of-the-art overview of the changes and development of the civil international aircraft/aviation industry. It offers a fully up-to-date account of the international developments and structure in the aircraft and aviation industries from a number of perspectives, which include economic, geographical, political and technological points of view. The aircraft industry is characterized by very complex, high technology products produced in relatively small quantities. The high-technology requirements necessitate a high level of R&D. In no other industry is it more of inter-dependence and cross-fertilisation of advanced technology. Consequently, most of the world’s large aircraft companies and technology leaders have been located in Europe and North America. During the last few decades many developing countries have tried to build up an internationally competitive aircraft industry. The authors study a number of important issues including the political economy of the aircraft industry, globalization in this industry, innovation, newly industrializing economies and the aircraft industry. This book also explores regional and large aircraft, transformation of the aviation industry in Central and Eastern Europe, including engines, airlines, airports and airline safety. It will be of great value to students and to researchers seeking information on the aircraft industry and its development in different regions.