Key.Aero: Hi Barbara, nice to meet you. Tell us about how you became involved with Airbus?
Barbara Kracht: I started working for Airbus in the early 1970s, in the very early days of the company, in communications - what was called public relations at the time - and switched very quickly to media relations. I was lucky enough, in fact, to basically live through the whole growth development of the company from the early days. I even witnessed the very first flight of the A300. I retired around eight years ago when Airbus had been established as one of the two big aircraft manufacturers – it was a fantastic period.
KA: How did your interest in aviation begin?
BK: Well, as a student I didn't like aircraft, I didn't like journalists, I didn't like classical music as I often say, so never say never because I ended up being in love with all three of these things. What really changed was the opportunity of seeing the aircraft and participating in the first air show where Airbus was present in 1973 at Le Bourget and then participating on the demo flights where they needed someone with language skills, which I had. I enjoyed the atmosphere and fell in love with the aircraft and the business.
KA: I read somewhere that…
