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GERMAN GOVERNMENT HAS NO AEROSPACE STRATEGY

After half a year in his new function as co-ordinator of the German government for aerospace matters, Siegmar Mosdorf recently summarised his activities. According to the parliamentary secretary of state in the ministry of economics, the success of his work was based on four key points:

First, the commitment of the new German government to fulfil the obligations concerning the national and European space programs as well as the international co-operation in space.

Second, the government's decision to take part in the definition phase of the European satellite navigation system Galileo.

Third, the government's determination to proceed with the national aerospace research and support program.

Fourth, Lufthansa's decision to procure the new Fairchild Dornier 728JET.

The right answer to the process of globalisation is, as the politician specialised in economics mentioned, excellence and international relations: "If we want to keep the pace in the economic world arena we have to be good. As co-ordinator of German aerospace matters I want to do my part to achieve this aim."

Hearing this, the well-wishing listener asks himself: which contribution has he made so far? The four enumerated "key points of his success" evidently are not based on the initiatives of the new co-ordinator. Therefore there is a severe contradiction between the results of his actions and his self-imposed claims.

"One has to ask what his position to the whole aerospace business is after all." This question not fully unjustified echoes through the industry.

Mosdorf himself gives the answer in a symbolical way: while all preceding co-ordinators spent at least two days at the most important aerospace trade show of the world in Le Bourget to represent their national industry, to maintain international contacts and last not least to visit the common exposition of the German aerospace companies, Mosdorf originally did not want to follow these actions. His plan: just spend one hour at the Airbus Ministers meeting and hurry home as fast as possible. Only after massive pressure he finally agreed to "be available on Monday morning from nine o'clock to a quarter to eleven"- a whole total of 105 minutes. Hence, the significance he donates to "his branch" cannot be demonstrated more effectively by his time of stay at the Aérosalon.

The judgement of the performance of the new co-ordinator made by observers of the (ghostly) scene reflects this situation "The attempt to try to interest himself in aerospace affairs and to fulfil his office is being noted."

Four months ago several industry leaders were able to note upon visiting the chancellor's office how the head of the government ordered his co-ordinator to take care of the secret exclusion of compensations for free research and development in the common regulations of research and development contracts in the ministry of education and research. For a further explanation: the current cost compensation of 7,5 percent for research of new technologies conducted by company funds proves to be absolutely necessary for the survival of especially the mid-sized companies.

How has the co-ordinator reacted to the instruction of his boss so far? Not at all.

Against this background the critical opinions on Siegmar Mosdorf get more explicit: "Better no one than one like him".

But maybe the parliamentary secretary of state in the ministry of economics is more a victim than a delinquent. His direct principal, secretary of economics Müller, is seen by insiders as a rabulist tending to overestimate himself, and not allowing other opinions besides his own.

Due to the unwritten party rule that "the one who engages himself for a certain cause also engages himself in isolation", the co-ordinator may have subscribed himself to discrete reluctantness simply to safeguard his career.

Be it as it may, aerospace does not seem to be his world. It is closer to information and communication technologies, as once again "well-informed sources" know.

One of these "knowing persons" recently summed up the achievements of our co-ordinator in a rather unusual but equally true way: "He tries to solve, has and causes problems."

This has to get better, Herr Mosdorf.

From page 4 of FLUG REVUE 7/1999