Le Bourget trends and issues

The 45^th Paris Air Show will provide industry players a gathering place to discuss the past, present, and future after two years of seemingly non-stop challenges to the industry.

Reducing the environmental effects of aerospace, assessing new materials for structures, looking to future developments of unmanned air vehicles, and considering how to better integrate academic research with the practicalities of production systems are just some of the major topics that will be the focus of attention at this year's Paris Air Show. The themes may seem more about evolution than revolution, but despite the recent downturn in the airline industry, the potential for expansion of both civil and military aerospace design and technology remains enormous.

Aerospace in most of its aspects is in a very difficult phase; short term, the outlook is uncertain and complex. However, it is an industry that must always look far ahead, both commercially and technologically, in an attempt to assess what is over the horizon. Future commercial aircraft technology is particularly difficult to assess, with the practicalities of operation more than ever vying with the more esoteric elements of research and development.