The Paris Air Show traces its history back to the first decade of the 20th century, thus becoming one of the oldest air shows in the world. In 1908 a section of the Paris Motor Show was dedicated to aircraft and from there it has just taken off to become an iconic show exclusively for military and civil aircraft. In 1909, a dedicated air show was held at the Grand Palais from September 25 to October 17 during which it is recorded that nearly one lakh visitors turned up to see products and innovations from about 380 exhibitors.

Before World War I, there were four such shows. It restarted in 1919 and from 1924 it is being held biennially, only interrupted by World War II. It restarted again in 1946 and since 1949 has been held without any break. The June 19-25, 2017, Air Show will be the 52nd edition of the prestigious event which is being held at Le Bourget from 1953 onwards.

“Manufacturing start-ups are in the process of changing the face of the aeronautical and aerospace industry as we know it and it’s only a matter of a few years before it will be changed beyond recognition. We are very pleased that GIFAS chose us to bring together this new generation of innovators, which is the result of the work that Starburst Accelerator has been carrying out around the world over the past five years. There’s no doubt that the forthcoming Paris Air Show will be a great occasion for discussions and emulating increasingly bold ideas for the sector’s future.”

— François Chopard, Starburst Accelerator’s CEO and Founder

“Paris Air Lab will, I’m sure, be an unforgettable experience for both trade visitors and the general public to the Paris Air Show, inviting them on a journey, to board a flight to innovation, ‘Boarding for Tomorrow’, where the future is decided and takes shape.”

— Emeric d’Arcimoles, Chairman and CEO of the International
Paris Air Show

 

“No person, no company, no country succeeds in isolation. Now more than ever, success in international trade comes from partnership and teamwork.”

— Tom Kallman, President and CEO, Kallman Worldwide

 

Paris Air Show along with Farnborough Air Show and Dubai Air Show, have become an international reference in the aeronautical sector and the highpoint of these airshows is that it is not just about mega aircraft and aircraft related deals, it is about innovation in the aerospace industry; it is about trends in the sector; it is about future and it is more than aviation. It is for this reason that these airshows attract huge number of visitors from across the globe. The International Paris Air Show is organised by the SIAE, a 100 per cent subsidiary of the GIFAS.

World First Innovation Accelerator

Every edition, the organisers add value to make it more attractive. This year SIAE and GIFAS, in partnership with Starburst Accelerator, present the 100 start-ups that will shape tomorrow’s skies! SIAE (International Paris Air Show) and GIFAS (the French Aerospace Industries Association) will open Paris Air Lab doors from June 19 to 25, 2017. This unprecedented 2,000 square metres of exhibition space designed with the Hopscotch agency, will host an innovation-centred exhibition where the aeronautics, digital and aerospace sectors come together, by giving the floor to a great variety of players. Thanks to Starburst Accelerator (the world’s first aerospace accelerator), around a hundred of the most innovative start-ups will have the opportunity to exchange opinions on their projects with those of the major manufacturing groups, space agencies and major European research programmes. This is a world first to be staged in the context of the biggest international aerospace show.

View of Tomorrow’s World

At the hub of a space devoted to industrial innovation and start-ups, the 100 startups, mainly identified by Starburst, will be assigned to exhibition pavilions, along a crossover route that takes in the major players in aeronautics, aerospace and digital sectors. Every day the exhibition pavilions will present a set of 10 to 15 new start-ups on themes such as Vehicles of the future, Drones, Energy Sensors and Sources, Passenger Experience, Conquering Space, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, Environmental Surveillance, Innovative Manufacturing and Industry 4.0.

Debates on Innovations

The start-up representatives will be called on to make a pitch for their innovations to the audience during the twice-daily pitch sessions (10 a.m. and 3.30 p.m.) opened by the major aeronautics and aerospace specialist Chief Technology Officers (CTO). Each session will kick off with a keynote speech from a CTO of one of the major groups or space agencies expounding on his or her personal view of innovation, before calling on six start-ups each of which will be allotted a twominute “pitch” to expound on their own project.

“Paris Air Lab is a boarding pass to the future. It’s a new space totally devoted to mapping what the aerospace sector and more broadly tomorrow’s world, have in store. We will introduce the abundance of projects, talents and new technologies that characterise our sector, highlighting the various forms of innovation. They may well originate from manufacturers or start-ups and be collaborative, spontaneous, planned, and revolutionise processes, networks or materials. We are also intent on presenting a vision. We have invited scientists, sociologists, pilots, astronauts and designers of our times to debate on the major challenges facing humanity,” said Anne Bondiou-Clergerie, Director of R&D, Space and Environment Affairs, GIFAS.

“Manufacturing start-ups are in the process of changing the face of the aeronautical and aerospace industry as we know it and it’s only a matter of a few years before it will be changed beyond recognition. We are very pleased that GIFAS chose us to bring together this new generation of innovators, which is the result of the work that Starburst Accelerator has been carrying out around the world over the past five years. There’s no doubt that the forthcoming Paris Air Show will be a great occasion for discussions and emulating increasingly bold ideas for the sector’s future,” stated François Chopard, Starburst Accelerator’s CEO and Founder.

“Paris Air Lab will, I’m sure, be an unforgettable experience for both trade visitors and the general public to the Paris Air Show, inviting them on a journey, to board a flight to innovation, ‘Boarding for Tomorrow’, where the future is decided and takes shape,” said Emeric d’Arcimoles, Chairman and CEO of the International Paris Air Show. Paris Air Lab will be located next to The Careers Plane -- Jobs &Training Forum, an area dedicated to jobs and training in the aerospace sector, with a strong focus on innovation and environmental responsibility.

Oportunities for International Cooperation

Paris Air Show is a true driver for development in the sector and a catalyst for numerous joint international operations, it is one of the most important meeting and convergence points for decision-makers in the sector, who come to exhibit, sell and purchase the latest innovations. In 2015, the show brought together 2,303 international exhibitors, 1.5 lakh trade visitors and 2 lakh visitors from the general public. Some 130 aircraft were present, in both flying displays and exhibitions. It had 1,30,000 square metres exhibition space and 150 aircraft presented and in flying display. There were 296 official delegations from 100 countries and 4,300 journalists from across the world. The highlight was that the show had $130 billion of confirmed orders.

INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOWS ARE A MUST FOR INDIAN AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE COMPANIES WHICH ARE LOOKING AT GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES EVEN AS AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE OPENS UP IN INDIA

The United States brings the largest foreign contingent to the show, thanks to Kallman Worldwide, showcasing American leadership in aerospace and defence with companies producing innovative systems that bolster international security, enhance global economic development and strengthen long-term bilateral alliances. “No person, no company, no country succeeds in isolation. Now more than ever, success in international trade comes from partnership and teamwork,” said Kallman Worldwide President and CEO Tom Kallman, long-standing organiser of the US presence at Le Bourget, who this year will unveil America’s new onsite headquarters at the show, the USA Partnership Pavilion.

More than 350 US companies are expected to exhibit at Paris this year; 240-plus representing 32 states in Kallman’s new 4,200 square metres Pavilion, located prominently in Hall 3. In addition, many US civil and military aircraft will be displayed during the show. “For two decades, our successful US International Pavilion helped sharpen America’s focus on the opportunities expanded trade has for keeping the entire US industrial base healthy, so that it can continue to invest in technological innovation and create good paying jobs,” he said.

“Now into our third decade at the Paris Air Show, the new USA Partnership Pavilion builds on that foundation to help position US companies to advance our nation’s leadership in the global economy. Many of our American exhibitors — from publicly traded stalwarts to small and medium enterprises [SMEs], already have significant sales and partnership opportunities in the global marketplace. In the years to come, many more will,” Kallman said.

He pointed to 18 state economic development groups exhibiting in dual roles in the Pavilion at Paris as examples of how US industry is developing business partnerships at home and internationally, promoting state-based companies looking to grow exports overseas and at the same time prospecting for overseas companies to establish or expand operations in the United States.

Similarly, such international airshows are a must for Indian aerospace and defence companies which are looking at global opportunities even as aerospace and defence opens up in India. According to reports over 500 visitors from India will be present at the iconic airshow.