“AIR 2009” Award to Alenia Aermacchi a Finmeccanica Company
Alenia Aermacchi won the “Trofeo Air 2009”, the traditional award that AIR PRESS gives every year to institutions, companies or distinguished persons that during the course of the year have demonstrated the best of Italian Aviation.
The award was given by Mr. Adolfo Urso, Undersecretary for Economic Development, to Mr. Carmelo Cosentino, CEO of Alenia Aermacchi, during the traditional “Serata Air Press” that took place on 23d of February in Rome in the picturesque setting of the hall of the Temple of Adriano.
Several political authorities were present, including Mr. Maroni, Minister of Interior, and military Leader: Gen. Camporini, Defence Chief of Staff, Gen. Tei, Air Foce Chief of Staff, his successor Gen. Bernardis and many other Aeronautics representatives.
The Air Press Director, Mr. Coggi, justified Alenia Aermacchi’s award in the following way:”To have maintained for decades an unbroken tradition of success that, thanks to the machines of its conception and the record they have achieved, contributed to write the history of Italian aviation and the Aeronautical world. With the “Trofeo Air 2009” we want to give ample attention and deserved commendation to an internationally acclaimed company like Alenia Aermacchi that is, for over half a century, synonym for trainers that are exported to the five continents and have given lustre to the entire Italian industry and of which the modern M-346 is a worthy successor”.
Mr. Cosentino, thanking the large audience that crowded the room, expressed words of gratitude to those who always supported Alenia Aermacchi, first of all the Italian Air Force, who “believed, from the outset, in our most recent product, the M-346 Master, not sparing tips and suggestions in a constructive view and with the objective of securing for himself the best product to work and for us the best aircraft to market”.A special thanks went to the Minister of Economic Development “who, ante litteram, believed in the product and in our company and, across several governments and ministries, never did fail to support, morally and materially, the development of the M-346 programme”. Finally a special thanks to Finmeccanica “to whom the company is grateful for the unflagging support that the Group always demonstrates”.
