A focus of this year's Paris Air Show is likely to be aircraft cabins of the future. Airlines want designers to maximize passenger capacity. But those that turn left when they enter the plane are living in increased luxury. There have been calls for intermediaries between the economy-, business- and first-class model. Expect examples of five class cabins to be on show this year.
Cabin designs of the future —
A focus of this year's Paris Air Show is likely to be aircraft cabins of the future. Airlines want designers to maximize passenger capacity. But those that turn left when they enter the plane are living in increased luxury. There have been calls for intermediaries between the economy-, business- and first-class model. Expect examples of five class cabins to be on show this year.
Courtesy Airbus
Drones are now being used for disaster relief, commercial deliveries and collecting news footage. But they're also becoming the news. High-profile crashes, incursions into private property and near-misses with commercial planes have caught the industry off guard. Expect new solutions to be announced as to how such incidents can be avoided.
Safe space for drones —
Drones are now being used for disaster relief, commercial deliveries and collecting news footage. But they're also becoming the news. High-profile crashes, incursions into private property and near-misses with commercial planes have caught the industry off guard. Expect new solutions to be announced as to how such incidents can be avoided.
DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
Not that all drones on display will be for civilian use. Expect more on show like Israeli's Elbit System Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle, seen here on display at Le Bourget 2013.
Military muscle —
Not that all drones on display will be for civilian use. Expect more on show like Israeli's Elbit System Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle, seen here on display at Le Bourget 2013.
ERIC PIERMONT/AFP/Getty Images
Air travel in Asia is booming, but the industry faces major issue. Where will the huge new fleets that feed this demand reside? Where will they be maintained? Crucially, where will they take off and land? New regional hubs will be required -- expect solutions to be thrashed out on the floor of Le Bourget.
Asia's infrastructure issues —
Air travel in Asia is booming, but the industry faces major issue. Where will the huge new fleets that feed this demand reside? Where will they be maintained? Crucially, where will they take off and land? New regional hubs will be required -- expect solutions to be thrashed out on the floor of Le Bourget.
ChinaFotoPress
A haven for plane enthusiasts, the air show is a great networking opportunity where orders are placed, deals made and multimillion-dollar contracts signed.
Aviation networking —
A haven for plane enthusiasts, the air show is a great networking opportunity where orders are placed, deals made and multimillion-dollar contracts signed.
ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images
Passengers currently have access to the Internet for 24% of all miles flown. Customers expect to be connected on the ground and they're increasingly demanding it when flying. Solutions for larger bandwidths, better security and integration of smart technologies with on-board services are likely to be on the agenda.
Up in the cloud —
Passengers currently have access to the Internet for 24% of all miles flown. Customers expect to be connected on the ground and they're increasingly demanding it when flying. Solutions for larger bandwidths, better security and integration of smart technologies with on-board services are likely to be on the agenda.
MEHDI FEDOUACH/AFP/Getty Images
Not all planes at Le Bourget need to be smartphone friendly. Here jets from the French Air Force precision flying team, La Patrouille de France, perform in 2013. Expect more of the same this year.
Aerial acrobatics —
Not all planes at Le Bourget need to be smartphone friendly. Here jets from the French Air Force precision flying team, La Patrouille de France, perform in 2013. Expect more of the same this year.
ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images
The so-called Internet of Things, where numerous devices can communicate online, is hardly a new concept for the aerospace industry. Now innovators are aiming for real-time flight health monitoring from the skies and relaying all this information to operations on the ground.
Real-time monitoring —
The so-called Internet of Things, where numerous devices can communicate online, is hardly a new concept for the aerospace industry. Now innovators are aiming for real-time flight health monitoring from the skies and relaying all this information to operations on the ground.
John Moore/Getty Images
Le Bourget has always been home to cutting edge aviation technology. In 2011, Swiss solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse took off for a demo flight. Four years later, the Solar Impulse team is halfway through circumnavigating the world.
Aviation technology —
Le Bourget has always been home to cutting edge aviation technology. In 2011, Swiss solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse took off for a demo flight. Four years later, the Solar Impulse team is halfway through circumnavigating the world.
PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images