Wave of Support for Flood Victims
Amsterdam/Munich, 22 August 2002
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EADS donates EUR 1 million to German Red Cross
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Eurocopter BO105 supports aid teams in the new Laender
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EADS Military Aircraft provides Austrian aid organisations with advertising space
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BDLI President and EADS CEO Rainer Hertrich: "Affected suppliers can count on the solidarity of EADS"
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EADS Works Council collects donations for specific reconstruction projects
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Company provides aid for employees
A wave of support for the victims of the flood of the century is washing through German industry. EADS, the largest aerospace company in Europe, will make a contribution of EUR 1 million to the German Red Cross as part of the donation gala transmitted by the German television channel ZDF on Thursday evening.
And actual assistance is being offered at the site of the floods. At the beginning of the week the EADS subsidiary Eurocopter (Donauwörth) had already sent one of its BO105 helicopters to support the Saxony police in their observation flights and people transport missions. The EADS Military Aircraft Business Unit is putting all its planned advertisements within the Austrian media at the disposal of the aid organisations of the Austrian federal states concerned. They can then be used for appeals for help and as a service for those affected by the floods.
EADS CEOs Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich said: "Through our support, we want to send out a clear signal of solidarity and hope. Politics, industry and society have to stand together now. This will give those affected the strength, courage and means required to cope with the catastrophic consequences of the floods.
For Rainer Hertrich, President of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), concern for suppliers is a main priority. The flood has caused massive damage to the trades, commerce and industry. Due to threat of closure for many companies, countless jobs are also in grave danger. "At the moment, solidarity with our suppliers is of paramount importance," said Hertrich. "Philippe Camus and I have called upon our Purchasing Departments and Heads of EADS Business Units to do everything they can to offer specific, local support to suppliers affected by the floods. We also appeal to all other companies in our branch to do the same. For, if there are no economic base, no trades and no medium-sized companies, people would see no sense in reconstruction."
EADS employees themselves want to help as well. The EADS Works Council will collect donations for both affected colleagues and for specific aid projects in the Laender involved. A series of projects is currently being investigated.
EADS employees who have been personally affected by the catastrophe are also to receive help from the company in the form of allowances, loans and special leave.
EADS is a global aerospace and defense leader, and the world's second largest in terms of revenues. EADS maintains a workforce of more than 100,000 and is a market leader in defence technologies, commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft, as well as related services. Its family of leading brands includes the commercial aircraft maker Airbus; Eurocopter, the world's largest helicopter manufacturer; Astrium, the space company and MBDA, the world's second largest missile company. EADS is also the biggest partner in the Eurofighter consortium and heads the A400M military transport aircraft programme. EADS has more than 70 facilities in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. It is active in markets around the world, including the U.S. and Asia.
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