There’s a German word for how Americans feel nowadays about Toyota’s woes: Schadenfreude, which means pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.

Remember when America feared that its once-mighty manufacturing base, even in the aerospace sector, was getting “hollowed out” and its assembly line workers were being transformed into a mindless horde of minimum wage hamburger flippers? With the ascendancy of American high technology, exemplified by Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, you don’t hear that kind of whining anymore.

Not too long ago, economic pundits warned that the United States was saddled with a low-skilled, poorly educated workforce on the verge of becoming indentured wage slaves to Asian corporations. That was before Japan’s “Lost Decade” of the 1990s – and Toyota’s sticky gas pedals of today.

However, amidst all the hyperbole over the importance of technology in a post-industrial world, a truism is often forgotten: A national economy can’t sustain its competitiveness – and its standard of living – if it lacks a vibrant industrial base. That means honest-to-goodness, roll-up-your-sleeves manufacturing.

And that’s where America enjoys reclaimed strength as well. In addition to its high-tech aspects, the aviation industry also represents classic manufacturing. With the recent first flight of technological marvels such as the Dreamliner, aerospace is dominated by the company’s Seattle-based aircraft assembly lines, which are turning out the most advanced aircraft in the world. These new aircraft represent a melding of mass production and leading edge innovation.

Nonetheless, a new bogeyman has emerged to challenge the U.S., particularly in the aviation field: the People’s Republic of China. According to Chinese officials this week, a new plant for the manufacture of carbon composite parts in China for Airbus' A350 XWB and A320 aircraft should be ready for operations by the end of 2010. China's Harbin Aircraft Industry Group holds a 50 percent stake in the business.

This new Chinese-European joint venture will be the subject of animated debate during Aviation Today’s webinar, “How the Composite Revolution Affects You”, scheduled for March 31, from 11:00 a.m. – noon (ET). You can register here:
www.aviationtoday.com/webinars/2010-0331.html

Our panel of speakers will discuss what the aviation industry should expect from aircraft OEMs in the coming months. The use of these versatile materials is sweeping all sectors of aviation, but the industry is still struggling with how composites will change conventional ways of flying and maintaining aircraft.

Consternation over composites is especially acute in the maintenance sector, where many mechanics still aren’t sure of the proper way to handle them. Maintenance is a huge bread-and-butter concern for all types of operators. When designing aircraft, OEMs once were in the unfortunate habit of giving maintenance short shrift, but that’s no longer the case. New aircraft are now designed to be easier and cheaper to maintain, from the get go.
 
The speakers also will discuss the status of the various new aircraft offerings from Airbus and whether this European behemoth has finally righted itself. They will focus on what the major airframers have learned lately, in terms of production techniques, and the hard lessons Boeing has gleaned from its global supply chain problems with the Dreamliner – and how other companies can put those lessons to good use.

To learn more about what the OEMs have in store for you and your business, register for our forthcoming webinar here:
www.aviationtoday.com/webinars/2010-0331.html

John Persinos is publisher and editorial director of Aviation Today
www.aviationtoday.com/john_persinos_bio.html