Salon International de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace

Salon International de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace
Name	Salon International de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace
Status	Active
Genre	Aerospace trade fair
Frequency	Biennial
Location	Paris–Le Bourget
Country	France
First	1909
Organizer	SIAE / GIFAS / ADEME
Attendance	Hundreds of thousands

Contents

Salon International de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace

Overview

Founded in 1909 at an early aviation meeting that featured pioneers like Louis Blériot, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Santos-Dumont and contemporaries of Wright brothers, the exhibition became a focal point for manufacturers such as Vickers Limited, Breguet Aviation, Farman Aviation Works, Hispano-Suiza, Spad (aircraft), Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Est and later Aérospatiale and BAC (British Aircraft Corporation). Throughout the 20th century the fair reflected developments driven by programs like Concorde, Tupolev Tu-144, Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Eurofighter Typhoon, Panavia Tornado, F-35 Lightning II and commercial programs such as Boeing 747, Douglas DC-3, Airbus A320 family, Embraer E-Jet family and Bombardier CSeries. During the Cold War delegations from USSR and NATO allies alternated appearances as relations evolved with events like Prague Spring and Détente, and major announcements often coincided with milestones from Arianespace, Spacex and launch providers such as United Launch Alliance.

Held at Paris–Le Bourget Airport and organized by the Groupement des industries françaises aéronautiques et spatiales in partnership with ministries including Ministry of the Armed Forces (France), the show uses hangars originally tied to Le Bourget airfield history and exhibitions coordinated with institutions like Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Centre national d'études spatiales and municipal authorities of Le Bourget (Seine-Saint-Denis). Logistics involve exhibitors from CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission), CNES, ESA member states and private consortia with participation from European Commission, World Trade Organization delegations, and customs arrangements for aircraft imports coordinated with DGAC. The fair's program includes press conferences, bilateral meetings, technology forums with speakers from MIT, Stanford University, Imperial College London, École Polytechnique, Sorbonne University, Caltech and think tanks such as RAND Corporation.

Static displays have included prototypes, production airframes and historic aircraft from collections such as Imperial War Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Royal Air Force Museum, and manufacturers like Airbus Helicopters, Eurocopter, Dassault Falcon, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Saab AB, BAE Systems, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Fokker, De Havilland, Sukhoi, Mikoyan (MiG), Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Aerospace Company. Aerial demonstrations feature aerobatic teams including Patrouille de France, Red Arrows, Blue Angels, Snowbirds, Frecce Tricolori, Russian Knights and display aircraft such as Aermacchi MB-339, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 Fighting Falcon, Mirage 2000, Su-27, MiG-29 and civil performance flights by Airbus A350, Boeing 777X and turboprops like ATR 72. Technology zones highlight unmanned systems from General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, urban air mobility projects by Joby Aviation, Volocopter, Lilium GmbH, electric propulsion demonstrators from Rolls-Royce plc initiatives and satellite platforms from Thales Alenia Space, Maxar Technologies, OneWeb and nanosatellite companies such as Planet Labs.

The fair has historically generated large orders and memoranda of understanding among operators like Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, KLM, Turkish Airlines and leasing houses including Air Lease Corporation; major contracts announced have involved Airbus SAS, Boeing Company partnerships, joint ventures among Safran and GE Aviation, supplier agreements with Spirit AeroSystems, MTU Aero Engines AG and certification programs through authorities such as EASA and FAA. Economic analysis by industry bodies including IATA, OECD and World Bank underscores the show's role in export promotion for France and technology transfer programs with partners in Brazil, India, China and Canada. The event catalyzes supply chain activity for Tier 1 suppliers like Honeywell, UTC Aerospace Systems, Rolls-Royce and smaller firms showcased by incubators associated with European Investment Bank, Bpifrance and venture capital groups such as Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz funding aerospace start-ups.

Notable announcements and incidents at the fair have included the 1969 unveiling milestones for Concorde in collaboration between Aérospatiale and British Aircraft Corporation, the first public display of Boeing 747 derivatives, controversies such as protests linked to Greenpeace over environmental concerns, safety incidents involving aerobatic displays (investigations by BEA), aircraft accidents leading to inquiries by Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile (France), and political demonstrations involving delegations from Russia, China and United States during periods of diplomatic tension such as Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and sanctions episodes. Press coverage from outlets like Le Monde, The New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, China Daily and Al Jazeera often accompanies major deal announcements and ministerial visits including heads of state from France, United States, Germany, United Kingdom, India and Brazil.

Category:Aerospace trade shows