EADS N.V. - EADS is official partner at German president's Summer Fete

EADS is the official partner to the German president's Summer Fete this year. Under the event's motto "Commitment – With Each Other – for Each Other", the Group will be presenting its collaboration with the international relief organization "Aviation Sans Frontières / Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen" (ASF/LOG).

Dr. Ulf Merbold, honorary president of “Aviation Sans Frontières / Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen” stated on the commitment of the organization: “A nation´s greatest gift are its children. Unfortunately there are regions in the world where children have to grow up in poorest conditions. Therefore I understand it as the responsibility of the world´s rich nations to provide children from those regions with a perspective of a brighter future. “Aviation Sans Frontières / Luftfahrt ohne Grenzen” has made and is continuing to make its small contribution to this duty. The long history of ASF/LOG is looking back on a great series of acts we would not only like to resume but also to expand in the future.”

The partnership with ASF/LOG is of special significance to EADS within the scope of the company's social commitment, because the company and the relief organization both have their roots in aviation and they act hand-in-hand on the international stage. Working in conjunction with other international aid organizations, the association is engaged in the airlifting of people and relief supplies.

ASF was established in France over 25 years ago and has set up national branches in various countries, including Spain and the United Kingdom. With the assistance of EADS, a corresponding ASF organization has also been set up in Germany so that the aid organization is now active in all four EADS home countries.

EADS has been supporting the globally operating ASF/LOG network for several years. In addition to giving financial support, the company also provides aircraft and helicopters for the often lacking air transport of people and relief supplies. In this way, it is guaranteed that there is a basic provision of medical treatment in the remote areas of Africa and South America. Through the combined commitment of ASF/LOG and EADS a bridge can be build between donors and the needy.

Following the Tsunami disaster of 2004, for example, ASF/LOG and EADS launched the joint relief operation "Wings of Help". Donations from EADS employees were used to finance the airlifting of relief supplies to Kuala Lumpur, from where they were transported by helicopter to Banda Aceh. At that time, EADS also donated a mobile first aid post, in which the injured were treated directly at the scene of the disaster.

The German organization LOG is taking active part in the Week of Civil Society, which is being staged in September under the patronage of the German president, Horst Köhler. With the help of ASF Spain, on Universal Children's Day ill children from a hospital in Madrid will be flown into Frankfurt for example. Together with students from the international school in Frankfurt and children from hospitals in Ludwigshafen and Frankfurt they will take part in an international festival at the airport, where – amongst other things – in a symbolic act an aircraft will be loaded with relief goods. Later, on board this and another aircraft, aid will be flown to Romania and Russia. The aid is destined for deaf and blind children.

At the Summer Fete, the presidents of ASF France, ASF Spain and ASF UK and the vice president of LOG will be in attendance at the EADS stand. The guests will therefore be able to personally obtain information about the joint projects organized by the ASF organizations and EADS. In addition, films will show the work of the ASF organizations – a modern-day "Berlin Airlift".