NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviation Week has selected Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, as its 2012 Person of the Year in a cover story published today in Aviation Week & Space Technology. As Europe's most powerful leader and having the most impact on aerospace in 2012, she had blocked the $45 billion merger between European Aeronautics Defence & Space Company (EADS) and Britain's BAE Systems (BAE), successfully devastating the deal. A key influence in the aerospace industry, Merkel has revolutionized the very arc of Europe's largest aerospace and defense company and disallowed change of the industrial landscape.

"Angela Merkel possesses a distinct skepticism about majestic visions of European integration, and as a result killed the EADS-BAE tie-up for purely political reasons," said Aviation Week & Space Technology Editor-in-Chief Joseph C. Anselmo.

The merger's downfall is rooted to the instability of Europe, incongruity, and doubt. Berlin's budding umbrage of its loss of influence within EADS, caution about France, and uncertainty about the motives of the firm's German CEO Tom Enders are all sad realities of external forces. But despite all these components, Germany is strengthened by its rising stature in Europe, developing jobs and advancements in technology.

"Germany's veto shows the extent to which the European aerospace industry is under political control," said Jens Flottau, Managing Editor, Aviation Week & Space Technology. "Regardless of whether or not the merger would have been a commercial success, it was certainly blocked for the wrong reasons."

The Person of the Year distinction, the eighth in Aviation Week's 97-year history, recognizes the impact individuals have on the broader A&D community. Aviation Week staff editors selected Chancellor Angela Merkel from an international field of candidates. Prior recipients include Louis R. Chenevert, chairman and CEO of United Technologies Corp. (2011), United Continental CEO Jeff Smisek (2010); the Space Entrepreneur (2009); former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (2008); the father of China's space program, Tsien Hsue-shen (2007); Alan Mulally, previously of Boeing Co. (2006); and Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, previously of Finmeccanica (2005).

Complete coverage of the Person of the Year, including photos and runners-up, is available at http://www.aviationweek.com. For a rich media gallery of previous winners, visit http://www.aviationweek.com/person.

About Aviation Week:

Aviation Week, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the largest multimedia information and services provider for the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries. Industry professionals rely on Aviation Week for analysis, marketing and intelligence. Customers include the world's leading manufacturers, suppliers, airlines, militaries, governments and other organizations that serve this global market. Aviation Week produces data and analytics services including the Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), industry-leading events around the world, as well as ShowNews and Business & Commercial Aviation.

On July 2, 2012, the group's flagship Aviation Week & Space Technology (AW&ST) relaunched with an even greater focus on technology, business and operations that has long been the brand's hallmark. In addition to civil, military and space, AW&ST's market coverage is further expanded with new monthly Defense Technology and MRO editions to include land and sea and aftermarket insights.

Aviation Week's 2012 digital expansion includes a redesigned AviationWeek.com for deeper community engagement and navigation and a comprehensive technology upgrade to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN). AWIN, the industry's essential integrated business tool, now has increased capability through more fleet and MRO data and an expanded team of data analysts.

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