I.S. In Our Own Words

Christopher Liao

La privatisation d’Airbus: element cle pour partir a la conquete du ciel (French)

It is not too often that you get to write about your passion. My I.S. combined a business study with my profound interest in commercial aviation. I love airplanes. I collect model airplanes, correspond with other enthusiasts around the world, take photos of planes, and dedicate a personal Web site to display my work.

Initially, incorporating my interest into I.S. was easy because Airbus Industries, one of only two commercial airplane manufacturers in the world, is based in Toulouse, France, where I spent my junior year abroad. David Wilkin (French) helped me focus on how the privatization of Airbus contributed to its success in the commercial airplane market.

Airbus was formed in 1969 and largely managed under the governments of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain. In 1997, management in Toulouse decided that Airbus needed to find a way to compete and perform more effectively with its American competitor, Boeing. The solution was to transform and commercialize the company into a simplified joint stock company. The new structure allows other parties to invest in Airbus and allows its management to make decisions more effectively.

The most difficult aspect of I.S. was understanding and defining the term "privatization" – I won’t explain it here! I knew Airbus was an up-and-coming enterprise, but I never realized that moving from the public to private sector would be so beneficial, making it a major player in the commercial airplane market.

I welcomed the intellectual challenge that I.S. provided. Sometimes, it took me a while to get the writing (in French) going. I would say to myself, "Just do it tomorrow." By the time tomorrow came around, it was time for my next meeting with Professor Wilkin. But once I got writing, it was hard to pull myself away from the computer. A booked ticket to Florida was my motivation to finish before spring break.

"Chris's longstanding passion for civilian aircraft dates from his first plane trip, at the age of three. Great news: In June he started working for Air France in Boston."

– David Wilkin, French

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