First, the Pentagon announced that no U.S. military officer over the rank of colonel would be in Paris for the semi-annual air show (starting June 15) that has been an institution since 1909. Then there was the startling news that there would be no flight demonstrations by U.S. military aircraft over Le Bourget Field, which has been for decades the foremost venue of American flying prowess.
With even the static display of American military aircraft down to six, giants Lockheed Martin Corp., Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. have throttled back by as much as half the number of personnel slated to attend.
Yves Bonnet, director of the Paris Air Show, said the U.S. reduction in force was “clearly a punishment,” but the Department of Defense and the big aerospace contractors have been circumspect in citing the reasons for the partial boycott.
The DoD will say only that it has been stymied this year because of the strain of worldwide commitments, including Afghanistan and Iraq. Meanwhile, Lockheed spokesman Tom Jurkowsky politely announced, “Our reduction is based on several factors, including the geopolitical situation in the world and the cost.”
In the case of Chief Executives Philip Condit of Boeing and Daniel Burnham of Raytheon Co., who have elected to give the show a pass altogether, actions speak louder than any press release. So it is with General Dynamics Corp., Textron Inc. and L-3 Communications Corp., who have withdrawn as exhibitors and, needless to say, will not be throwing any lavish parties and receptions at swank hotels – a hallowed tradition with the American exhibitors in past years.
At stake for the French is not only the loss of prestige but the windfall of the millions of dollars usually spent by the big defense companies at the event. Greatly diminished this year is the demand for $1,000-a-day suites, as well as viewing “chalets” next to the runways at $250,000 a pop. According to the report, coveted hotel rooms, which in the past had to be reserved a year in advance, are still available.
And adding insult to injury, no U.S. Congressional delegation will be winging its way to the City of Lights in June.
“President [Jacques] Chirac intentionally embarrassed my president, which in effect embarrassed all of us,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman C.W. “Bill” Young, R-Fla., said. As committee chairman, Young must authorize any travel expenses for the show. That’s not going to happen, and Young has banned committee members and staff from attending.
Ironically, the air show theme this year is French-American cooperation through the years.
Despite the rancor between the U.S. and France, the French organizers are making the best of it and insist that regardless of the much touted tensions, there will be a significant American presence – with about 277 exhibitors from the U.S. signed up.
“The Americans who are used to exhibiting at the Paris Air Show have once again registered, and their participation is maintained,” the organizers said in a recent release.
But, says the Times report, even without the current Franco-American chill, the climate at the air show has been evolving. Reportedly gone with the wind are the halcyon days when big deals where cut at the venue on a handshake. However, the show remains the place to rub shoulders and at least build rapport with a dozen aerospace executives over the course of a day’s events.
The industry “has been looking for ways to reduce the cost of participating in the air show since the end of the Cold War,” said Jim Fetig, a Raytheon spokesman.
In the case of Raytheon, it will pack off about 80 people to Paris -- down from about 140 in 2001.
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