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Munich, October 19, 2009 – Munich is accustomed to welcoming guests from all over the world, and it did so once again for one week from October 12 through 17 when about 120 quality experts from around the globe met in the city on the Isar River to discuss quality standards in aviation. The company chosen to organize this 26th Meeting of the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) was MTU Aero Engines, Germany's leading engine manufacturer. "We are very pleased that we host this high-profile event," commented Dr. Pamela Herget-Wehlitz, Senior Vice President Corporate Quality at MTU.

In aviation, safety is the highest priority. In the keynote address he delivered at the Westin Grand Hotel Arabellapark, the venue of the event, MTU CEO Egon Behle emphasized: "Economically tough times or no, there's no way to economize and compromise on quality. Quality is crucial to safety, especially so in the engine industry, where the slightest safety hazard endangers the lives of many people.“

The IAQG expert organization was launched in 1998 to develop and establish high quality standards in aviation, adopting new standards and reviewing and updating existing ones. Members of the group include 64 aviation companies, among them the world's biggest players in the industry: the prime aircraft manufacturers, led by Boeing and Airbus, and the most prestigious engine builders, such as General Electric, Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney's parent company, United Technologies. The companies' quality managers hold two meetings a year on alternating continents and take advantage of these events also to exchange information and views with their supply chain partners. Last week, the IAQG members' meeting took place in Munich, which is home to MTU's corporate headquarters. 

About MTU Aero Engines
MTU Aero Engines, a Bavarian company with a long tradition, is one of the big players in the engine industry. The company's roots trace back to the early days of powered aviation at the beginning of the 20th century. Its official legal predecessor is BMW Flugmotorenbau GmbH, which was founded in 1934. In 1936, the company moved to its present-day premises in Munich-Allach. With a global workforce of some 7,500 people, MTU in 2008 posted revenues amounting to more than 2.7 billion euros. MTU Maintenance is the world's largest independent provider of commercial engine maintenance services. In the military area, MTU is Germany's industrial lead company for practically all engines flown by the country's armed forces. Technologically an industry leader, the company excels in low-pressure turbines and high-pressure compressors, as well as manufacturing and repair techniques.