Aero aluminum still flying strong: Alcoa

The choice of non-metallic composites on the latest crop of jumbo jets doesn’t spell the loss of aluminum’s dominant role in commercial aircraft production, according to an Alcoa Inc. executive.

The choice of non-metallic composites on the latest crop of jumbo jets doesn’t spell the loss of aluminum’s dominant role in commercial aircraft production, according to an Alcoa Inc. executive.

Tony Morales, global marketing director of aerospace aluminum at Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Inc., said that recent inroads by composites might have led to "premature judgments about aluminum obsolescence."

Alcoa has "absolutely no quarrel" with Boeing Co.’s decision to use non-metallic composites for a record 50 percent of the weight of its 787 Dreamliner, which resulted in aluminum accounting for an uncharacteristically low 20 percent.