BLUE SKIES

It's back to business in aerospace.

After several years of general depression at major industry gatherings, a parade of new aircraft--led by the Airbus A380 ultra widebody and Dassault 7X business jet--and a plethora of expected order announcements leaves industry officials optimistic that Le Bourget 2005 will relegate those dark days to history.

What's more, the nasty political row between Washington and Paris over the war in Iraq--while not resolved--has toned down, adding to the buoyant atmosphere. The political differences caused U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to largely ban flag officer participation in the 2003 proceedings. Not so this time. Several senior officers are going to be in attendance, giving U.S. presence the clout it lacked two years ago.

In contrast to the last show, the flying display will feature several top U.S. military platforms, including the C-17, F-16 and F/A-18E/F. However, ongoing test activities will prevent the new aircraft--the V-22 and F/A-22--from attending, and there is a feeling among some in the U.S. that the F/A-22, the Pentagon's newest fighter, should make its first overseas air show appearance in the U.K.

Another area where the U.S. and French representatives have made amends is over the structure of the air show itself. U.S. industry officials had been complaining about the duration and associated costs. Organizers of the air show--a subsidiary of the French aerospace industry association Gifas--have been listening and met several times since the 2003 gathering with their U.S. counterparts to address those concerns.

The result: a streamlined schedule. The event is now slated to last seven days instead of nine, June 13-19. The first four days will be dedicated trade days, with public days to follow.

Europe's two newest aircraft, the Airbus A380 (top) and Dassault Falcon 7X are undergoing flight testing at the Istres flight test center in southern France. Credit: DASSAULT/VERONIQUE ALMANSA

FOR U.S. INDUSTRY officials the development is good news because it will help them save money, says Joel Johnson, vice president-international of the U.S. Aerospace Industries Assn. A lot of the savings will be eroded, however, by the weakened U.S. dollar compared with the euro. Two years ago a euro was worth $1.15, now the dollar has fallen to around $1.30. That development makes it "all the more important" for organizers to curtail expenses, Johnson adds.

High costs, however, have done little to stem industry participation. Louis Le Portz, who heads up the air show, says 1,870 exhibitors have signed up this year, versus 1,703 in 2003, and that 2,000 square meters of additional covered space has been rented, including an entirely new exhibit hall. Customers have also reserved 512 chalet units--26 more than two years ago, Le Portz says, noting that "the overall comfort and image of the event, both for professionals and the public, will be much improved."

The number of participating countries is also up slightly, to 44 (from 42 in 2003), with Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Slovakia making their first appearance at the show. Among the new facilities will be a Middle East pavilion. China, Ukraine and Turkey will have greatly expanded exhibit areas.

Embraer is bringing its largest regional jet to Le Bourget. The Embraer 195 began flight testing last year and is slated to be certified in 2006.Credit: EMBRAER

The aircraft display is expected to be about the same size it was at the last Paris show, but quality will compensate for quantity. More perhaps than in any past year, the limelight at this year's show will be on large commercial aircraft. Airbus plans to fly its A380 mega-transport on some, if not all, days. Boeing will bring the 777-200LR, the latest offering in its campaign to promote point-to-point operations.

Of equal prominence are likely to be two products that have yet to take to the air. Boeing will be trumpeting the successful sales drive behind its 787, which will arrive at Le Bourget with more than 240 orders under its belt. Airbus will be showing off ideas for its newest airplane, the A350, designed to counter the 787 offensive. Hans-Peter Ring, chief financial officer for Airbus' parent EADS, says that after months of discussion the company has basically completed the design for the A350, which is expected to be formally launched at the show.

While the A350 go-ahead may be a mere formality at this point, a launch announcement could have far-reaching consequences on the trade front--something also likely to be a hot topic here as U.S. and European industry and government officials make clear their positions on aircraft subsidies.

The Aermacchi M-346 trainer recently began flight testing and is scheduled for its Le Bourget show debut. However, the Yakovlev Yak-130, on which the M-346 is based, won't be at the event. Credit: FINMECCANICA

Boeing and Airbus will also square off in the hot aerial tanker segment, with Boeing presenting its KC-767-300, currently in flight trials for the Italian air force. Airbus will be pitching its A330-derived model, which has been selected by Australia and is due to be acquired by the U.K., pending final negotiations. Airbus recently named a short list of four U.S. cities as potential final assembly sites as the battle to supply the Air Force's requirement for new refuelers intensifies. An earlier attempt to obtain KC-767s broke down in scandal over improper negotiation practices.

WITH THE ABUNDANCE of new projects in the regional jet segment, however, the big jets will not be the only show in town. Embraer will bring its new 195 model. At the short-/medium-range end, Tupolev will show off the Tu-240-300, a shorter version of the Tu-204 twinjet soon to be introduced by VladAvia of Vladivostok, Russia. "We are facing a recovery in the market place, with traffic rebounding," notes Orlando Neto, director of Market Intelligence for Embraer. But the environment is "ultra competitive," he adds.

Like Airbus, Dassault is taking time out of its busy flight test schedule to bring its newest product, the Falcon 7X, to the show. The ultra-long-range aircraft will participate in the flying display. Also making their Le Bourget premiers will be 7X's rivals, the Gulfstream 450 and 550. Raytheon Aircraft, which bypassed Le Bourget two years ago in favor of the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibit in Geneva, will be back this time, although Cessna apparently has opted to pass. The air show's general director, Jean-Luc Joly, says organizers incorporated "qualitative improvements" to make the event more attractive to the business aviation community. They have also set aside a light aviation area for aviation enthusiasts.

Sharing the spotlight will be a crop of new trainer models. Aermacchi's M-346 will be making its show debut, followed by the HAL Intermediate Jet Trainer from India and the Raytheon T-6 Texan II. But Yakovlev's Yak-130--on which the M-346 is based--was forced to bow out at the last minute because of flight-testing constraints (AW&ST May 16, p. 22). Aviation Technology Group and Israel Aircraft Industries are expected to showcase the Advanced Jet Trainer, which is based on the Javelin jet.

Russia will send its Su-27 SMK, an export version of the Su-27 SM single-seat fighter first shown in Zhuhai. Le Portz insisted that previous episodes in which Russian and Ukrainian aircraft scurried off to avoid being seized for unpaid debts will not be an issue, at least for government-owned hardware. However, the question remains open for aircraft belonging to individuals or corporations, and this may keep the giant An-124 freighter away from the show.

Another disappointment, Le Portz says, was a failed attempt to set up a flying display for unmanned aerial vehicles. Frustrated by regulatory constraints, the show organizers neverthe- less managed to set aside a dedicated hall for UAVs. There will also be a UAV area on static display, and a UAV awareness conference.

STILL ANOTHER SETBACK was the decision of the European Space Agency to skip Le Bourget due to funding constraints. Nevertheless, Le Portz affirmed that strong participation from Russia, China and France, along with special exhibits showing new European programs such as the Galileo satellite navigation system will more than compensate for the loss.

Also on the positive side will be a brace of new helicopters. AgustaWestland's Super Lynx 300 will be part of the flying exhibit. Down on the flight line, attendees will be able to visit Agusta's Grand, unveiled at Farnborough last year.

OF COURSE, AIR SHOWS are not just about aircraft. Snecma and Sagem will exhibit in the name of their newly formed company, Safran, formally created earlier this month. Lockheed Martin and Boeing can be expected to highlight their new space launch venture. By then, the new EADS management team should be in place, with Noel Forgeard and Thomas Enders as Co-CEOs along with new leaders for Airbus and the defense operation; that is, unless the power struggle between shareholders drags on. Boeing, however, will still be without a permanent chief executive as the search continues for an individual to replace Harry Stonecipher, ousted earlier this year.