From the start, the Aerospace Industry Awards aimed to be different. Unlike other awards, they offer truly universal competition open to any aviation organisation. Above all, they are judged by an independent panel of industry experts.

This year's panel, chaired by Flight International editor Allan Winn, again brought together a strong mix of expertise from around the world (see panels).

The criteria they used to judge each of the 12 categories are relatively straightforward. The entries must present an achievement that is measurable, memorable and, above all, one which has had an impact on the industry as a whole.

The Lockheed Martin merger is a case in point. Few could seriously deny that the merger has had a profound impact on the whole defence industry.

Others among the winners and finalists have been selected because of pioneering work on new technologies or services. Work on satellite-based navigation, for example, has reached some important milestones over the past year from airlines, manufacturers and service providers alike.

New-aircraft launches are also among the winners, where they have made a contribution in pioneering new markets. The ultra-long-range business jet and 50-seat regional jet are examples.

While the judges acknowledge that there were often others preparing to offer equally strong products in these markets, they felt that those companies which had got there first deserved recognition for the fact.

Some of the finalists are included simply for the degree of drive, initiative or innovation they have shown in contributing to key areas such as air safety.

Neither isthe judging panel obliged to choose a set number of winners and finalists in each category. Where the judges felt that there were only a couple of clear favourites, such as in the Helicopters category, the shortlist has been cut to two, while in others, where the competition was closer, it has been expanded to four, as in Systems & Components.

The panel also decided to give a separate award for Training. Previously, there has been a single Training & Safety category, but the judges believed that some of the achievements in training deserved to be recognised in their own right. The only category not to produce a winner was Maintenance, where the judges felt that the entries were worthy but not exceptional.

Ultimately, however, the Awards are not only about picking winners, but also to encourage excellence across the whole industry.

 

The judges:

Sir Donald Spiers

Sir Donald Spiers is president of the Royal Aeronautical Society, after a distinguished career in the UK Ministry of defence (MoD). Before retiring from the MoD in 1994, Spiers had most recently served as Controller, Aircraft, responsible for the procurement of all aerospace equipment for the UK armed forces. Spiers set out in the aerospace industry as an apprentice at the De Havilland Engine Company after completing a mechanical-sciences degree at Cambridge University in 1957. He went on to join the Air Ministry four years later as assistant chief scientist to the Royal Air Force, before moving to the aerospace-procurement arm.

 

Max Bleck

Max Bleck's 45-year career reads like a role of honour in the US general aviation and corporate aircraft industry. In 1978, he became president and chief executive at Piper Aircraft, before going on to become vice-president at Beech Aircraft in 1986. After a short spell as president of Cessna, he returned to beech as chief executive and then chairman. In 1991 he became president of the parent Raytheon Company, and before retiring in 1995 saw the growth of the aircraft business with the acquisition of the Hawker corporate-jet range from British Aerospace in mid-1993.

 

Boon Swan Foo

Boon Swan Foo was appointed president of Singapore Aerospace, the aerospace arm of the Singapore Technologoies Group, the start of 1993. Before taking up the reins at the group's aerospace manufacturing and services division, Boon spent 16 years within the ship-building industry, serving as president of the group's Singapore Shipbuilding & Engineering business. His association with shipbuilding goes back to college days, when he completed a degree in Naval Architecture at the University of Newcastle in the UK. Boon also holds an MBA management degree from the National University of Singapore.

 

Mike Ambrose

Mike Ambrose has been a director general of the European Regional Airlines Association since 1987, helping to build up its profile and give a stronger voice to Europe's regional carriers. Ambrose began his career in the UK airline industry in 1996, when he joined the flight operations department at British European Airways. In the early 1970s, the airline combined with the British Overseas Airways Corporation to form British Airways, and Ambrose joined the new carrier's regional division. His other roles included advising on aviation charges for BA and the Government.

Source: Flight International