A bright future was predicted today for Israel’s aircraft industry which is expected to have a strong effect on Israel’s economic growth and stability. A1 Shwimmer, director-general of Aircraft Industries, forecast that Israel’s exports of commercial aircraft would triple in the next three years and amount to about $52 million annually.
Mr. Shwimmer told an annual symposium on civil aviation that his own firm’s first Israel-made commercial aircraft, the turbo-prop “Executive,” would make its maiden flight early next year. Another aircraft, the “Jet Commander,” will be in production toward the end of 1969, he said.
Moshe Peled, head of Israel’s Civil Aviation department, told the symposium that despite the present Middle East political situation, Israel must consider eventual commercial flights to neighboring countries when it plans future civil aviation installations. He said a budget was approved to rebuild and enlarge the main passenger terminal at Lydda Airport which was gutted by fire recently. The rebuilt terminal will be more functional and more convenient than before, Mr. Peled said.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
