High Hopes or Just Dreaming?

A look at how Asia's aircraft manufacturers are trying to break into new markets to challenge the status quo.

For the past decade, the fastest growing aerospace sales have been in Asia, which has done much to boost Western aircraft makers at a difficult time in their own markets. This situation has led regional nations to look on enviously at the multi-billion-dollar rewards that can flow from successful advanced aircraft programs, and they have concluded that they should have more of this business for themselves.

The new Asian powerhouse at present is China, but South Korea and Japan are also anxious to expand their aerospace exports. The real challenge is how to get to a stage of manufacturing maturity that can attract market credibility.