GIFAS to display the greatest French participation of all times at ILA.

Responding with enthusiasm to the invitation of BDLI, the sister German association of GIFAS, France is the Partner Country for the ILA Berlin airshow in 2018, scheduled to take place 25-29 April 2018. This partnership proves the excellent relationship between two of the world’s top aerospace nations with a strong track record in terms of cooperation.
The German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) together with the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS) have decided to display the most innovative systems, equipment and solutions of both countries during this airshow.
Eric Trappier, Chairman of GIFAS and Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation, will lead a 40-strong delegation of French companies made of aerospace, defence and space industrials, the greatest French participation of all times at ILA.
They are showcasing their know-how at the French pavilion or taking their own stands. The firms include prime contractors, midcaps and SMEs.
The exhibitors federated by GIFAS for ILA Berlin are AD Industrie, ADF Group, Aeriades, Airbus, Daher, Dassault Aviation (the biggest exhibitor of the “Pavillon France”), Delta Plasturgy – Joly Plastics, Elvia PCB, Factem, Hutchinson-JPR, Jacques Dubois, Latécoère Interconnection Systems, Liebherr, MBDA, Mecapole, Mega-P, NCSimul Solutions, Nicomatic, Normandie AeroEspace, Novae Aerospace, Preci 3D, Rafaut, Safran, Satys, Solcera, Somepic Technologie, Thales, Trescal, Ventana and Volum-E. The French Defence procurement agency, the Délégation Générale de l’Armement (DGA) will also be present alongside the France pavilion.
Eric Trappier and Klaus Richter, Chairman of BDLI, will welcome the German Chancellor Mrs. Angela Merkel for the inauguration of the airshow and meet with several ministers and officials from Germany, such as Mr. Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister of Economics and Energy, Mrs Ursula von der Leyen, Federal Minister for Defence, Mr Andreas Scheuer, Federal Minister of Transport, or French officials such as Mrs Florence Parly, Minister for the Armed Forces, and Mrs. Delphine Geny-Stephann, Minister of State, attached to the Minister of Economy and Finance. They will also meet with several delegations of parliamentarians from both countries, Germany and France, and from many other European nations.
“The French aerospace industry is proud to work alongside with its reliable, long-term partner, the German aerospace industry. History of cooperation between France and Germany is very strong, with real successes. During ILA Berlin, the industries and leaders of our two nations will have the greatest opportunity to prepare the future of the European aerospace. This will be implemented with the strongest confidence in our common ability to cooperate, and shared wish to reaffirm the commitment of our industries in both aerospace, defence and space areas for future projects that are priorities for Europe.” stated the Chairman of GIFAS, Eric Trappier.
About GIFAS
GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales), the French Aerospace Industries Association, is an industry body formed in 1908, that brings together some 400 companies ranging from the main
prime contractors and system suppliers to SMEs that together form a cohesive, supportive and hard-driving high-technology sector specializing in the design, development, construction, marketing and maintenance of all aeronautical and space programmes and equipment, both civilian and military, as well as defence and security systems – planes, helicopters, drones, motors, devices and missiles, satellites and space launchers, major systems and equipment, defence and security systems.
GIFAS represents an industry whose 2017 sales turnover was € 64 bn, and that exports 85% of its output, directly employs 190 000 individuals and annually invests more than 12% of its sales turnover in R&D.
Source: GIFAS