BRITISH AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26857, 9 October 1952, Page 11

BRITISH AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY

German And Japanese Orders Sought COMPANIES LOOKING FOR NEW MARKETS [From the London Correspondent of "The Press”] _. , LONDON, September 25. Since the Second World War, the value of Britain’s aircraft and aero engine exports has increased steadily Exports reached £42,000,000 last year, and large payments were also made by American firms for the right to build aircraft and jet engines under licence. This year, British aircraft manufacturers are turning to two new overseas markets—Germany and Japan-—to boost their export figures. Civil aviation operations are expected to commence in the two countries in the near future, and already salesmen from British firms have been active in securing orders for British factories.

A Vickers-Viscount turbo-prop airliner is at present making a sales tour of German cities. British European Air Ways, which operates Viscounts on some of its routes, has agreed to release its operating figures to interested buyers, and the builders hope that orders will be placed for about 12 machines at £250,000 apiece. A Comet has also visited Germany recently, and aviation officials there are studying its performance details. The full-scale revival of Germany’s civil aviation industry cannot take place until the tri-partite agreement among the United Kingdom, the United States and France is concluded. This agreement is itself dependent on Germany’s acceptance of arrangements made under the European Defence Community plans, but aircraft manufacturers have been advised by the British Government to go ahead with their sales tours so that orders can be placed as soon as the international agreements are completed. In Japan, Britain has already secured several substantial orders. A

£1,500,000 order for Comets has been placed by one Japanese company, and de Havilland Herons have been ordered for feeder-line services. Two new Japanese airlines, Japan Air Lines and Japan International World Airways, are planning to start services across the Pacific to America, ana new air agreements covering their routes > are being negotiated. British manufacturers realise that they will encounter American competition in their new markets, but they are confident that they can retain their lead in modern jet airliners and gas turbine-powered aircraft. The Government’s recent action in deferring the national service callup of skilled engineering workers will enable the industry to complete its training of young apprentices, and keep up the flow of engines and aircraft for export and military defence orders.