Polish parts take flight
A deal between Polish helicopter producer PZL Świdnik and the US Navy will put the first-ever Polish parts on US Navy aircraft, and has created a US Navy technical assistance office in Świdnik - the only such center in Europe.
According to the agreement, Świdnik, which also produces airplane parts, will supply the US Navy with panels for the doors of its F-14 Tomcat. According to company sources, each panel costs between zł.30-50,000. The first two panels were handed over in an official ceremony last week.
"This is a unique cooperation between our Naval Air Systems and a Polish aviation company. It's the first cooperative project of it's kind in Poland, and this will be the first time a Polish made component flies on a US military aircraft," said the US Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe.
In order to facilitate better coordination between the navy and Świdnik, a technical assistance office run by the US Navy was built into the factory, the first such office on the continent.
"We are going to develop our cooperation. This panel is the first step - because we hope to deliver more parts, not only for the F-14, but also different types of helicopters and planes used by the US Navy. So the office has been established just to make cooperation effective," said Jan Mazur, PZL Świdnik's spokesperson.
But the office could mean business for the entire industry in Poland. Despite the fact that the center is actually part of the Świdnik factory, its activities are not limited to cooperation with Świdnik. That means companies here with the capacity to make the appropriate parts will now have direct access to US Navy representatives, making their chances for winning future contracts all the more likely.
"If any company will be able to start cooperation with the Navy, the gate is open," said Mazur.
PZL Świdnik employs 3,250 people, and expects sales this year to reach zł.300 million, with profits of around zł.10 million.
Andrew Kureth
According to the agreement, Świdnik, which also produces airplane parts, will supply the US Navy with panels for the doors of its F-14 Tomcat. According to company sources, each panel costs between zł.30-50,000. The first two panels were handed over in an official ceremony last week.
"This is a unique cooperation between our Naval Air Systems and a Polish aviation company. It's the first cooperative project of it's kind in Poland, and this will be the first time a Polish made component flies on a US military aircraft," said the US Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe.
In order to facilitate better coordination between the navy and Świdnik, a technical assistance office run by the US Navy was built into the factory, the first such office on the continent.
"We are going to develop our cooperation. This panel is the first step - because we hope to deliver more parts, not only for the F-14, but also different types of helicopters and planes used by the US Navy. So the office has been established just to make cooperation effective," said Jan Mazur, PZL Świdnik's spokesperson.
But the office could mean business for the entire industry in Poland. Despite the fact that the center is actually part of the Świdnik factory, its activities are not limited to cooperation with Świdnik. That means companies here with the capacity to make the appropriate parts will now have direct access to US Navy representatives, making their chances for winning future contracts all the more likely.
"If any company will be able to start cooperation with the Navy, the gate is open," said Mazur.
PZL Świdnik employs 3,250 people, and expects sales this year to reach zł.300 million, with profits of around zł.10 million.
Andrew Kureth
