AFRICA MARKET FORECAST 122 MILLION Africa’s labor force is forecast to grow by 122 million people by 2020 and become a total workforce that will surpass that of China or India by 2035. limited ground transportation make air transportation essential. Richardson pointed out there is a strong market for CH-47 Chinook helicopters to transport military personnel and carry out humanitarian missions. Surveillance aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles also can be a great asset to local governments in preventing poaching, detecting criminals trafficking in people or drugs, and preventing attackers from storming oil platforms or boarding ships, Richardson said. Boeing sees a market for ScanEagle and Integrator unmanned aircraft systems and, in some cases, the AH-6i Little Bird helicopter. Sub-Saharan Africa’s natural resources have opened the door to research and development opportunities in the region, according to Bill Lyons, director, Global Technology, Boeing Research & Technology. Two areas of particular interest are sustainable aviation biofuel and processes that could lead to the conversion of titanium powder to titanium parts for aircraft. Lyons said South Africa has abundant supplies of titanium powder, which is mined primarily from mineral sands. In 2013, Boeing and South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research announced that they would conduct joint research on ways to incorporate titanium powder into industrial manufacturing processes. This mutually beneficial research collaboration supports South Africa’s export goods to these regions.” While there are great opportunities for Boeing to partner with growing African nations, the company’s employee presence in the region consists of airline support personnel. Still, Boeing has strong relationships with its airline customers and a solid foundation to build on. This can include offering needed services, technologies and training to the airlines. In sub-Saharan Africa, smaller carriers often rely on larger carriers for maintenance and engineering services. In some cases, these services are provided by companies from outside the continent, said Ed DeAlbuquerque, regional director for African sales, Commercial Aviation Services. He noted that Boeing is marketing its consulting and training services to help African airlines develop the maintenance and engineering skills to maintain their own fleets. While Boeing does not operate pilot-training facilities in sub-Saharan Africa, the company does partner with 43 Air School in South Africa to offer a “Fast Track to First Officer” training program. Ethiopian Airlines operates its own pilot-training academy, which includes time in simulators. Boeing also offers African carriers its latest digital efficiency tools, including Boeing Airplane Health Management, Toolbox and GoldCare Virtual Maintenance Engineering. “The people at these airlines are eager, ambitious and extremely bright when it comes to adapting to the latest technologies,” DeAlbuquerque said. “The infrastructure is starting to take shape.” Paul Oliver, Defense, Space & Security’s vice president, Middle East and Africa, International Business Development, said his business unit is just starting to explore opportunities in sub- Saharan Africa. Fortunately, the Boeing brand is strong in the region—because of the presence of Boeing jetliners. “Our Commercial Airplanes counterparts have really been a great help in introducing us to their contacts, setting up meetings and helping us understand the customer set that we’re dealing with,” Oliver said. “It’s been a great ‘One Boeing’ experience.” While Oliver doesn’t expect major sales in the region in the near term, he does see excellent prospects looking ahead five to 10 years, and decades down the road. “To be successful, we’ve got to invest time and start helping them solve their problems,” Oliver said. “This means working to become part of the fabric of their countries.” Tiffany Richardson, Defense, Space & Security’s International Business Development lead for Africa, said the company is forming alliances with aerospace-related companies that already have a strong presence in the region. Alliances can help market Boeing products on the continent and make services affordable to African countries. Africa’s vast geography and 38 Frontiers September 2014 1,100 AIRPLANES Africa is forecast to require about 1,100 new airplanes over the next 20 years, approximately two-thirds of which will expand the region’s fleet. 6 PERCENT Air traffic to, from and within Africa is projected to grow about 6 percent per year for the next 20 years, driven by the economic outlook, increasing trade links and the growing middle class. Source: Boeing Current Market Outlook
Frontiers September 2014 Issue
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