Wichita suppliers, officials prep for Paris Air Show

With the world’s largest air show less than a week away, local companies and economic development officials are gearing up to attend.

The Paris Air Show kicks off Monday at Le Bourget Airport. The show, which is split between a trade show the first four days and a public air show the last three days, will have 2,260 exhibitors from 47 countries and 120 aircraft on display.

In 2013 – the show is held every other year – it attracted 139,000 participants from industry and more than 176,000 attendees from the general public.

The show serves as an international platform for networking between companies in the aviation and defense industries.

Spirit AeroSystems, a manufacturer of commercial aircraft fuselages and other large aircraft parts, will exhibit at the show as well as operate a chalet for private business meetings.

Debbie Gann, Spirit’s vice president for corporate communications, said the company will have about 15 employees working the show, about five of whom (from its global customer services and support group) will staff its booth in the exhibition hall.

“We’ll use the chalet for high-level meetings with (CEO) Mr. (Larry) Lawson and customers, and potential customers,” she said.

Gann said the Paris show, and the sister Farnborough, England, international air show that is held in alternate years, “gives us access to the top-level executives from our customers and potential customers.”

She said individual meetings such as those could take weeks, even months. But those meetings can be accomplished in four days at the show.

“As far as this level of activity … you don’t that anywhere else,” Gann said.

Textron’s plans

Textron Aviation will also have a presence at the show, although its presence will be smaller than at other shows such as the National Business Aviation Association Convention and European Business Aviation Convention & Exposition, where the focus is on business aircraft.

A Textron Aviation spokeswoman said the Paris show is more about defense and special mission aircraft for the company, which is why its products on static display there will consist of an AT-6 light attack aircraft and Cessna and Beechcraft airplanes configured for special missions, such as a King Air 350ER, Grand Caravan EX and Baron G58 ISR.

Also making an appearance at Paris will be Textron AirLand’s Wichita-built Scorpion jet, which is designed as a tactical aircraft with the ability to operate in a number of roles, such as border patrol, maritime surveillance, defense operations and as a military trainer.

Bombardier and Learjet

Wichita’s other business aircraft maker, Bombardier Learjet, will stay home. “Paris, for us, is really a commercial aircraft show,” said Bombardier Business Aircraft spokeswoman Molly Edwards.

Instead, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft will use this year’s show to debut its new CSeries airliners, the CS100 and CS300, as well as its its newest regional jet, the CRJ1000, and a Q400 turboprop.

‘Talent Central’

A contingent of Wichita aircraft executives and economic development officials are also planning to attend and exhibit at the show.

The group will include Debra Teufl from the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition, Ryan Smith of CE Machine, Jim Barnes of Harlow Aerostructures, Tim Roussin of HM Dunn, Eric Haworth of Impresa Aerospace and Randi Tveitaraas Jack of the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The group will have a booth at the show, which they are calling Talent Central USA.

From GWEDC’s perspective, the goal is to sell international aviation companies on the area’s skilled workforce, its training capabilities such as the National Center for Aviation Training as well as available real estate for relocation or expansion.

The show also is a way for them to connect with non-Wichita based aviation suppliers that have operations in the area.

“It’s a huge show and a big opportunity, which is why more than dozen states and communities attend, plus other countries that are doing everything they can to attract aviation investment in their regions,” GWEDC chairman Gary Schmitt said in a news release on Tuesday. “Demonstrating our community support for our local aviation companies is important, plus we’re telling an amazing story about our talented workforce that enables our companies to succeed.”

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Wichita suppliers, officials prep for Paris Air Show."