PARIS, SLOW FOR PLATFORMS GOOD FOR SYSTEMS – PART 1
By Julian Nettlefold
18 Jun 09. We took the decision to cancel our Paris issue in favour of the Owning The Night, Night Vision issue for November at Bisley. It turned out we were right as there was a dearth of news at this year’s Paris Air Show, the opening of which stood under the cloud of the Air France Flight 447 disaster.
However in our customary tour round the Exhibits, there was an air of optimism from the systems suppliers with ITT, Selex Galileo and Northrop Grumman standing out as particularly bullish, we will report on these in our next feature.
The mood was constant throughout all the major Paris reports – gloom pervades.
Pierre Tran of Defense News reported that a battered aerospace industry must draw on reserves of stoical determination as the Paris Air Show opens today, marking its centenary against a backdrop of commercial
downturn and mortality. The aviation sector is second to none in its competitive drive but a catastrophe such as the loss the 228 lives onboard Air France flight 447 tends to bring out a sense of community that underlies an industry bound together by a passion for all things that fly.
“We could have hoped for more favorable circumstances to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the air show, which is still the foremost and finest showcase of the world’s aerospace industry,” said Charles Edelstenne, chief executive of Dassault Aviation.
So, despite the economic crisis and the fatalities of flight 447, the air show must go on, with vendors and official delegations gathering at Le Bourget airport, where Charles Lindberg landed the Spirit of Louis in 1927. As the air show organizers acidly point out, Lindberg did not choose to land at Farnborough.
“Everybody will be at the air show,” EADS chief executive Louis Gallois said at an international media seminar a couple of days before the air show opening. Given the global nature of the industry, the event underscored the importance of personal contact, he said.
The show also holds a place in international diplomacy.
“It is in the national security interest of the United States to participate in this event,” the Department of Defense said in a public statement. “Participation highlights the strength of the U.S. commitment to the security of Europe and demonstrates that U.S. industry is producing equipment that will be critical to the success of current and future military operations.”
The F-22, pinnacle of U.S. efforts to field the best fighter in the world, was withdrawn from its air show debut, not counting last year’s Farnborough mini demo, where it was expected to be the star draw of the 70 or so American aircraft to be deployed at the show.
The U.S. Air Force cited “air expeditionary deployments and operational
requirements,” for the decision, which disappointed the show organizers.
The FT reported that EADS warned on the eve of the Paris air show that the next two years will become increasingly difficult for commercial aircraft makers, as airlines face rising losses and falling traffic.
Louis Gallois, EADS chief executive, said Airbus, the group’s commercial
aircraft division, was already aiming to cut its previously planned output levels by 15-20 per cent. The warning from Europe’s leading aerospace and defence group came as participants came together for the show, the biggest gathering this year of leaders of the global aerospace industry.
Aircraft makers and suppliers have severely reduced staff numbers at the air show in response to the recession and the need to cut costs.
Canada’s Bombardier said its staff representation had been cut by 40 per cent, while Boeing of the US has 25 per cent fewer staff in Paris.
Some analysts and suppliers believe that both Airbus and Boeing, its US rival, will have to make deeper production cuts than already announced.
Airbus said it was planning to hold “intensive discussions” with a number of key suppliers i