A flight into the future in Paris

One of the biggest gatherings of aerospace professionals in the world, Paris Air Show is always a major stage for companies to promote their products and services. Ed Hill hears about some of the highlights of this year’s show.

Despite some weakening economic indicators for manufacturing around the world the aerospace sector appears to remain in good health. Driven in large part by an apparently never-ending demand for people wanting to travel by air, the aerospace industry faces large ramp-up demands for production of civil aircraft around the world.

When it comes to the military sector, BRIC countries such as India and China are developing home-grown aircraft programmes to strengthen their armed force’s capabilities and cultivate skills and technologies in their own aerospace industries. Other advances, such as drone or UAV aircraft are also making a big impact on the industry.

In light of this healthy backdrop, the International Paris Airshow or Salons Internationaux de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (SIAE) is the ideal arena in which to see the very latest advances in aerospace technology and manufacturing.

With a history that can be traced back to 1908; since 1953 the show has been held at Le Bourget airport, just a few miles from central Paris. Over that time, the Airshow has established itself as one of the biggest events in the aerospace trade calendar.

This year Paris’ Airshow, staged by GIFAS, (the French Aerospace Industries Association) will run from 19-25 June. It will feature around 2,300 international exhibitors, 150,000 trade visitors, 30 national pavilions and almost 300 official delegations. With around 150 aircraft on display, and more than 4,000 journalists covering the show, it is described as the must-attend event for all professionals working in the aeronautics and space sector.

It’s all sold out

At a recent press conference in London the organisers revealed that all the stands in the six halls and 330 business chalets in which the show takes had been booked by October last year. The earliest this has ever been the case.

Around 50% of exhibitors in Paris are French companies, with the USA having the second largest number of exhibitors. Companies from the UK, Germany and Italy also have a strong presence, along with others from China, Brazil, Spain, Canada and India.

The first four days of the show are for trade visitors with the fifth day dedicated to students. In 2015, US$130 billion of orders were confirmed at the show. Many UK companies involved in aerospace manufacturing will be exhibiting at the 52nd edition and as in previous years there will be a UK Pavilion coordinated by the ADS in hall 2B featuring UK companies and aerospace associations.

This year, as well as the usual series of talks and seminars, the organisers will also be staging the ‘Paris Air Lab’. The zone will offer trade visitors and the general public a pioneering and original exhibition space, which is said to herald the trade show of the future.

This future focused exhibition will be located in the Concorde Hall of the Air and Space Museum at Le Bourget, where two examples of the famous supersonic Concorde aircraft are on display. The 2,000m² space will be dedicated entirely to innovations from the major players in the aerospace industry, as well as those of the start-ups in the sector.

The Air Lab is comprised of three main zones: ‘Pick up your innovation’, which will focus on future technical advances in aeronautics (aircraft of the future, sustainable aviation and propulsion etc.); digital advances and applications (drones, interconnectivity, manufacturing) and space travel and exploration.

Another zone will be the ‘Visionary Hub’ a series of short conferences and Q&A sessions from experts on the aerospace world of tomorrow, and lastly the ‘Experimental Gate’, which will use virtual reality to create an immersive experience of aerospace and space travel.

Carla de Oliveira, deputy CEO of the Hopscotch Agency, the consultant helping to create the Air Lab says: “We are delighted to be working with the SIAE and the GIFAS on the co-creation of this first edition of Paris Air Lab. We're certain that this area, which offers rich encounters, content and innovation, will help give the public a better understanding of the goals and future of this sector.”

The Paris Air Lab will be located next to the ‘Careers Plane’ which highlights all the jobs available in aerospace from companies and individuals who design, manufacture and maintain aircraft, sometimes giving youngsters the chance to use tools themselves. Also, nearby will be the ‘The Sky of Tomorrow’ exhibition which presents an overview of environmentally-friendly aerospace research.

Business meets business

For smaller businesses (SMEs) attending the show, the event is a prime opportunity to win new contracts.

Gilles Fournier, managing director, of the Paris Airshow says this is a growing trend: “We estimate that 90% of the show’s exhibitors are SMEs; it is a very successful element for us. We find around 70% of our SME exhibitors return each year and around 30% come for the first time, often with the help of industry associations, and regional trade organisations.

“They consider the show to be a good opportunity to win business as they can meet a lot of people during the week and their return on investment is much more measurable from their point of view compared to the big players.

“We would like to increase SME participation as much as we can, but at the moment there is a limit to the space we have available. This year we have not been able to meet the demand from companies wanting to exhibit because everything had been fully booked since October.”

When it comes to the aircraft on display, the big OEMs, such as Boeing and Airbus, tend to keep which aircraft they will be bringing to the event close to their chest until nearer the time, but aircraft highlights known so far will include the first appearance at a major trade show of the Mitsubishi MRJ regional passenger aircraft, the Bombardier CS 300, Japanese P1 marine patrol aircraft and Embraer KC 390 military transport. Whether all these aircraft will be participating in the flying display is still to be revealed.

On a world stage

With the longest opening hours for exhibitors (6.30am-7pm) free Wi-Fi throughout the showgrounds, dedicated business meeting and conference services, the event’s organisers say Paris is still the cheapest meeting place for the aerospace fraternity to exhibit and do business.

Emeric d’Arcimoles, Paris Airshow CEO comments: “We are happy and proud that our show is still very much seen as where it is all happening. This is because over the years we have always strived to provide our exhibitors and visitors with the best possible business platform. It also reflects how our industry is in excellent health.

“The show is part of a worldwide consolidated industry. Unlike many other industries, the aeronautical industry is highly consolidated globally. When a large aeronautical programme is launched, whether it be civil or military, around 70% of the companies involved in those programmes are the same.

“As an organisation, GIFAS is not just about promoting the French aeronautical industry, but the worldwide industry. We believe this is the reason for the Paris Airshow’s success and the distinguishing element from our competitors. All our exhibitors have access to the official government delegations from around the world not just the French companies.

“I insist, with my team, that our main target is to increase the added value of the investment made by our exhibitors. We want to show how we can help them improve their chances of doing business.”

https://www.siae.fr/en