Paris gets down to business

Paris Air Show 2019
Paris Air Show 2019

As the world’s biggest gathering of aerospace professionals, the Paris International Airshow is always a major stage for companies to promote their products and services. Aerospace Manufacturing hears about some of the highlights of this year’s show.

Despite the ongoing disruption of Brexit and 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 OEMs and their manufacturing supply chains face increasing aircraft production ramp-up demands for civil aircraft, particularly in China.

When it comes to the military sector, the BRIC economies 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) will once again be 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 17-23 June and is described as the must-attend event for all professionals working in the aeronautics and space sector.

Flags of all nations

Usually, around 50% of exhibitors at the Paris Airshow comprise French companies, with the USA having the second largest number of exhibitors. Companies from the UK, Germany and Italy will 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 2017, over US$150 billion of orders were confirmed during the show. Many UK companies involved in aerospace manufacturing will be exhibiting at the 53rd edition and as in previous years there will be a UK Pavilion coordinated by the ADS, 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 space will be dedicated entirely to innovations from the major players in the aerospace industry, as well as those from start-ups in the sector.

In 2017, the Air Lab comprised three main zones: ‘Pick up your innovation’, which focused 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.

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.

It’s where we do business

For smaller businesses (SMEs) attending the show, the event is a prime opportunity to win new contracts. In 2017, Paris Airshow’s managing director, Gilles Fournier went on record as saying that as an estimate, 90% of the show’s exhibitors are SMEs, that around 70% of the event’s 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,” he added.

When it comes to the aircraft on display, the large 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. At the time of going to press, Aerospace Manufacturing had heard nothing from the show organisers regarding what aircraft will be participating in the 2019 flying display.

With long opening hours (8.30am-6pm) for exhibitors to make the very most of their opportunities, the event’s organisers claim the Paris Airshow is still the cheapest meeting place for the aerospace fraternity to exhibit and do business.

SIAE has already elected Patrick Daher as its new chairman and chief executive officer, replacing Emeric d’Arcimoles whose term of office expired after six years during which he oversaw the organisation of three Airshows. Daher will be responsible for managing and developing the organisation of the forthcoming edition of the International Paris Airshow.

“The Paris Airshow is a tremendous resource for the entire aerospace industry worldwide,” he said at the time of his election. “Every two years, it brings all industry players together at Le Bourget for a week of business and events. The professionalism of the SIAE team and the enthusiasm of exhibitors and visitors ensure that the Airshow remains today, as it has been for more than a century, the world's biggest Airshow. I am proud to take over as Chairman of this event, ready to tackle the huge challenges that lie ahead in the next few years.”

https://www.siae.fr/en

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Paris Air Show

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