Alenia Aermacchi celebrates 100th anniversary

O n May 1, 2013, Alenia Aermacchi turned 100 years old. The sole aeronautical company in the world to boast over a century of activity under the same shared brand Alenia was incorporated in 1913 by Giulio Macchi as Società Anonima Nieuport-Macchi. Hundred years later, the brand Alenia Aermacchi oversees the aviation sector of Finmeccanica, Italy’s main industrial group that ranks in the top ten groups in the aerospace, defence and security sectors.

Created on January 11, 2012, from the merger of Alenia Aeronautica, Alenia Aermacchi and Alenia SIA, today’s Alenia Aermacchi is the final step of a long integration process launched in the mid-1960s aimed at streamlining operations to better compete in the international markets—markets which demanded solid companies that offered integrated product portfolios.

Today, Alenia Aermacchi has grown its workforce to about 12,000 people – a distinct contrast from the 10 workers who built the first Nieuport-Macchi monoplane in 1913. With its activities balanced equally between the military and the civilian sectors, it is a global major player in the aviation industry.

During its century of activities, the “Alenia” companies which progressively merged with under today’s brand have designed, developed, built, delivered and supported nearly 30,00,000 aircraft in both the civilian and military sectors. These aircraft have been operated by air forces, airlines and private operators around the world.

Giuseppe Giordo, Alenia Aermacchi’s CEO, commented: “Our first 100 years mean a century of records, of technological achievements and of development of an industrial system which has been generating a significant economic and social impact in our country. Today Italy boasts one of the few aviation industries in the world able to offer a last generation fighter, a tactical transport aircraft whose superiority is acknowledged worldwide, an outstanding advanced jet trainer and several industrial collaboration programmes ranging from the modern Boeing 787 up to the A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft.”

During the remaining months of 2013, several initiatives will be promoted to celebrate Alenia Aermacchi’s centenary, highlighting the role the company has played in the development of aviation technology and its impact on economy and society.