CORDOBA.- Some 11,000 employees (equivalent staff all automakers operating in the country) in 1952 worked in the IAME today Aircraft Factory Argentina (Fade). Produced aircraft, Puma motorbikes, cars (the Justicialista Sport and Institec), boats and tractors. Currently employs 1,700 people, with a minimized despite resounding announcements made by the national government when it was reestatizada, in 2009 activity.
The factory had been 15 years in the granting of Lockheed Martin, a multinational American origin. President Cristina Kirchner argued that the international crisis of that time would mean an opportunity to start an import substitution in areas where the country has advantages. He likened the decision to the nationalization of Aerolineas Argentinas and private retirement. The operation cost $ 110 million (70 went to the repurchase of shares and the rest, to recover capacity). Since then, between working capital and wages, the state spends about $ 70 million annually.
Fernando Forbes, a member of the board of the Association of Aeronautical Technical Staff (APTA) in Fade says that indeed the nationalization, the union supported, can be equated to that of airlines: "Driving is in the hands of those who do not They have neither the training nor the necessary understanding to make it work. " Morcelli Gabriel, secretary general of suitable Cordoba, adds that "politics is above the industry" and then companies are not working. "We're degrading day by day." The government announced that 40 aircraft IA-63 Pampa III would become the Pucara repotenciaría, advance the project of Unasur plane and a helicopter based on a Chinese prototype would be built (CZ eleven). Then he signed an agreement for the production of parts for Embraer KC-390. A few months ago, the director Tulio Calderon added that in partnership with the plant Invap industry would rise to drones. According Apta, everything went ads. Pampa there is nothing concrete. "The technicians do what they can," says Forbes. Chinese helicopter prototype was assembled and the process ended there. Unasur aircraft for the project began and then stopped. Of the five sets of parties committed to Embraer they delivered three and the rest is delayed; the company responsible for the Brazilian.
the activity is concentrated in maintenance for the Air Force. These days there is a Fokker that it was announced to the workers, would be the last because the project was deactivated. Among the technical growing concern: the activity is minimal and does not work for the exterior are made. The union says more than 60 people for what they are doing are not required.
During his tenure, the Lockheed got the maintenance work center for the entire region. In those years, some aircraft came Colombia, but no major agreements were achieved. Since then, Chile and Brazil concentrated work.
Despite the insistence, the NATION could not get on the ground and talk to their authorities; there were no answers or Fade or the Ministry of Defence.
Brigadier (R) Roberto Engroba, that between 1985 and 1989 was conducted by the then Military Aircraft Factory, argues that permanent discontinuation of projects prevents the country is reliable, "He who buys a plane or contract maintenance needs long-term guarantees, knowing that for at least a decade so will look there. "
The aeronautical policies, points out, are not limited to the Air Force. "You have to determine if it is a strategic objective and go. So did Brazil and Chile. The governments pass, but plans continue." As an example, he cites that in the 90 was a joint project with Brazil to build a guide plane CBA 123 Vector Born in the administration of Raul Alfonsin and Carlos Menem came when "threw it all away."
the current leadership of Fade arrived in late 2013 at the hands of La Campora. The chairman Matthias Savoca, was director of Business in Defence and Security Military Industries; Walter accompanying Wayar Salta (the campaign videos of dancing) and the Cordovan Diego Atala. According transcended Defense decided driving away Argañaraz Raul works -today Daniel Scioli campaign by "inconsistencies in the accounts," which would relate to foreign currency debts to suppliers. Argañaraz says he resigned when he changed the defense minister, "after serving in record time in order to come back to be a factory." The alleged accounting inconsistencies said to be absolutely false. "Our obligation was to recover Pampa logistics chain, including avionics modernization for series production for the first time in its history."
Its passage by Fade was very controversial. Suitable accused of persecuting its members and delegates, and denounced by forcing workers to respond to a questionnaire and to impose political staff courses "indoctrination."
And with Campora driving there was a controversial catering. Last October, when the Defense Minister Agustin Rossi, chaired the 87th anniversary and announced the agreement with Embraer, they were paid $ 646,000 for a lunch of 1900 people.
During the administration of Argañaraz a new guild, personality has not yet constituted. Part of its board are former officials of Apta; its position is more akin to the company, given its endorsement. "Most of the delegates we gave for opposing a plan of sabotage, says the former directivo-. We made
The crisis of representativity that was the only guild, hegemonic, led to the end of my term only 4 % of the workers continue there. " Since the nationalization, the number of employees grew about 40%. "Many non-productive militancy, 'says Forbes. In 95, when the Lockheed took over the concession, he dismissed 800 workers; 1050 remained.
Last October, when the Defense Minister Agustin Rossi, chaired the 87th anniversary and announced the agreement with Embraer, they were paid $ 646,000 for a lunch of 1900 people.
On the viability of the plant, Horacio Viqueira, who joined the governing body from 2009 to 2013, he warns that the golden years in the 50s, were based on a strong state investment, but lacked an integrated process. "It is producing for a captive market, small-scale and high cost."
Argañaraz argues that in two and a half years, some $ 240 million was invested. "I think it is the most important management from the time of brigadier San Martin, both from a quantitative and from the qualitative, leaving a factory with technology globally." He is convinced that reached the goal that "again become a factory"
For Viqueira, the greatest potential for development are maintained, and to do comprehensive work and produce sprayers and girls units for private use. "The relationship with Brazil should serve to get on the international level," he says, and acknowledges that the shortage of foreign currency was a conditioning.
Morcelli notes that the plant is able to address various productions such as bus chassis or blades for wind turbines, which today are imported from China. One of his last achievements was repairing Generic Floralis, the metal sculpture is in the Figueroa Alcorta avenue, just meters from the Faculty of Law at the UBA.
Although the painting plant is tuned to, among other duties, serve Aerolineas Argentinas, the service center does not have this sector, only he worked in an airplane. "It is incomprehensible, but sends planes to paint outside," says Mocelli.
The Military Aircraft Factory was founded in 1927 and four years later, with AC 1, started the family of the "Argentine aircraft", which has its most prolific period from mid-40s to the military coup of 55. Nothing what was built at that time was licensed, but turned to the development of national projects with the direction of Brigadier Juan Ignacio San Martin, who in 1952 was appointed Minister of Aviation.
Juan San Martin -conocedor in detail the history of the factory and today in the area of Institutional Communications Fadea-, stands out among the highlights the production of DL 22 and the I Ae 24 Calquín, 201 units made with pine missionary used as composite and scrim. Of those gems he was not any. "They were hachados and wood was used to make boilers" says Engroba.
In 1947 he had its maiden flight the Pulqui I, first jet built in Latin America, and in 1950 it was the turn of Pulqui II. "Argentina stood there in the first places in aeronautics. These fighters were among the three best in the world," says San Martin. It was the beginning of the metalworking industry, as many entrepreneurs began to work for the factory. Engroba agrees with the analysis, but stresses that the plans were always "zigzagging, tied to political interests" and those who presented themselves as "tip" ended without reaching the intended consequence.
In 1957 the plant was renamed Manufacturing Management and Aeronautical Research (DINFIA), and continued with the aeronautics and car manufacturing. A decade later became the Area Material Cordoba, who developed the Guarani, the Pucara and the Pampa, while that produced the Rastrojero (ceased to be in the 70s by a decree of the minister of Economy Jose Alfredo Martinez de Hoz ).
