Publisher's Synopsis
Most countries aspire to have a civil aircraft industry, but even in the best of times, success at civil aircraft manufacturing is difficult. Technological barriers, governments, and geopolitical considerations are only the beginning of the challenges faced by those aspiring to join the industry. In fact, only four companies in the world (Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, and Embraer) have mastered manufacturing the extremely complex machines that are civil aircraft.
In Entering the Civil Aircraft Industry: Business Realities at the Technological Frontier, Dr. Dean Roberts provides an insider's perspective of this fascinating, multifaceted, and challenging industry using his more than thirty years of experience and interest in all aspects of the field. Using in-depth case studies, he examines the interplay of industrial policy, high technology, globalization, and business strategy on the field of civil jet aircraft manufacturing, seeking out the reasons for policy successes--and failures.
Dr. Dean Roberts has worked for Rolls-Royce for more than thirty-two years. He is currently a senior strategist at the aerospace company. He also teaches about the civil aerospace industry at the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce. He is an experienced forecaster familiar with capital budgeting, risk assessment, business war gaming, and strategy formulation and articulation.
Dr. Roberts is a member of the General Aviation committee of the Transport Research Board (a division of the National Research Council) and is regularly invited to be a guest speaker at conferences. In 2015, he furthered his passion for science, technology, engineering, and math education (STEM) by becoming the Rolls-Royce board member of VirginiaFIRST, a nonprofit devoted to helping young people develop an interest in STEM.
Dr. Roberts also enjoys running half marathons and has completed four Marine Corps Marathons. He has two grown daughters and two fantastic grandsons. He lives in Leesburg, Virginia.
