Space travel prediction
Airbus boss says it would take someone ‘off-the-wall’
AN AVIATION executive who oversaw the development of Airbus’ celebrated A380 superjumbo has predicted space transport will eventually become as normal as air travel.
Glasgow-born Tom Williams, who took over the top tier position of Chief Operating Officer at Airbus earlier this month, said turning commercial spaceflight into a reality would require pioneers who were “off-the-wall and visionary”.
He added that if air travel had been pioneered under the same restrictions facing the aviation industry today it might never have happened.
The 62-year-old, who is originally from the Maryhill area of Glasgow and still commutes every weekend from Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France, to his home in Ayrshire, was speaking at the aerospace giant’s annual press conference.
Mr Williams said: “It’s a difficult challenge when you look at the recent experience we had with Virgin Galactic.
“I have to say if Wilbur and Orville Wright were first flying in the same environment that exists today, from a legal and oversight point of view, I kind of suspect that we might not be flying today.
“When you’re developing any new form of technology, there is a patent risk so I think we have to be realistic.
“It’s still at the cutting edge and it will take time. It took aviation 100 years to get to where it is today.
“We take it for granted that we can go to the airport, get on an A380, it weighs 560 tonnes, it takes off smoothly, it flies to 40,000ft where outside the aircraft you would freeze to death – but that would be okay because you couldn’t breathe anyway – and then you’re going to sit there drinking your gin and tonic, watching a movie, and eat a three-course meal.
“Wilbur and Orville Wright probably didn’t have that vision in mind, but thank goodness we had people who were visionaries.
“And I think space transport will need that same kind of approach – people who are a bit off-the-wall and visionary, and I think there are people out there who will push it forward and in 100 years it may become as normal as air travel.”
Six sites in Scotland, including Prestwick Airport, have been shortlisted by the Department for Transport as potential locations for Europe’s first commercial spaceport.
The UK Government, which is also considering bases in Cornwall and Snowdonia, wants to establish the facility by 2018.
Billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has been at a forefront of developing commercial space tourism and had hoped to launch the first passenger flight by the end of 2014.
However, the endeavour suffered a major blow when his test craft, SpaceShip Two, exploded over the Mojave desert, killing a crew member.
Nonetheless, Branson said it would not deter him from pursuing the venture.
Mr Williams, who also sits on the board of the overarching Airbus Group – the parent company whose divisions include helicopters, defence and space technology – is now one of the most senior figures in global aviation.
He began his career as a teenage apprentice with Rolls-Royce Aero Engines in Renfrew before going on to occupy increasingly senior roles in a number of UK manufacturing companies, including British Aerospace at Prestwick Airport and later BAE Systems.
He first joined Airbus, Europe’s rival to Boeing, in 2000 as the managing director and general manager of its UK arm.
By 2004 he was Airbus’ executive vice president in charge of procurement before taking control of their programmes division, a role which would see him head up development of aircraft including the highly anticipated A380 superjumbo, the largest passenger plane flying today.
As of this month, he was elevated to Chief Operating Officer – becoming one of only four senior executives at the top of Airbus.
When you’re developing any new form of technology, there is a patent risk so we have to be realistic