By Garry Clark / For The Herald
A delegation of economic development professionals representing Snohomish County traveled to Paris for the Paris Airshow, in June.
This was the first Paris Airshow since the covid-19 pandemic. Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) was honored to serve as the lead for this trip, in collaboration with Snohomish County government, our municipalities, state delegates and the state Department of Commerce team.
I traveled along with our Vice President of Economic Development Wendy Poischbeg to represent EASC. The Paris Airshow plays a crucial role in our organization’s strategic engagement and partnership initiatives within the aerospace industry.
Other members of the county delegation included County Council Member and state Rep. Sam Low, R-Lake Stevens; Rep. Julio Cortes, D-Everett; City of Everett Economic Development Director Dan Eernissee; and county Aerospace Economic Development Director Terry Ryan.
We had the privilege of meeting with key industry players, including Senior Aerospace AMT, Valence Surface Technologies, Eviation, ZeroAvia, Crane Aerospace, Norsk Titanium, Leggett & Platt, Korea Aerospace Industries Assoc, Mitsubishi Aircraft, Safran America, magniX, MTorres America, Umbra Cuscinetti, Thales North America, Daher, PCC Aerostructures, Stack Metallurgical, Cotesa, and MT Aerospace.
These meetings included discussions on business retention and expansion as well as relationship expansion and creation meetings. Our conversations touched on a diverse topics such as market trends, business opportunities, production capabilities, non-Boeing business prospects, and workforce challenges faced by the industry.
This was my first trip to Paris and the air show, and what a magnificent opportunity for foreign investment and aerospace it turned out to be for EASC, the county and Washington state.
What I recall most is touching down in Paris, at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, feeling jet-legged at first, but then, quickly shifting to the journey through customs. It wasn’t until I collected my baggage and stepped outside, that I realized, “Hey, that French elective course would have made sense back in high school and college,” as the Uber driver addressed me with “Bonjour!”
As the airshow began, our state delegation traveled a full hour or more to the Aeroport Paris Le Bourget-Air Show space. We hopped off the tourist bus and walked a small hike to the entrance, our Washington energy evident, our focus locking in, our jet lag, a mere memory.
The excitement of the show — the Washington state booth, the amazing buzz in the airport — was unmatched by any other economic development show I’ve attended in my 16-year career.
We saw hydrogen-cell-powered planes showcased by Beyond Aero. We participated with Gov. Jay Inslee and Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong in the signing of a grant award for ZeroAvia, which currently houses its research center at the county’s Seattle Paine Field Airport. We found that the City of Everett was well known and on the lips of many of the aerospace companies we had the pleasure to connect with. We saw Safran Aircraft Engines, which has a facility in Everett, highlight the fact that its Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) program has been advancing rapidly and announced at Paris that the prototype engines have now performed some 400 ground tests and are achieving at least 20 percent lower fuel consumption and carbon-dioxide emissions compared with the most efficient engines available today.
We were able to connect with many of our local companies from Snohomish County and Everett. Most notably our very own EASC Board of Trustees investor, Eduardo Torres of MTorres, gave us an amazing presentation coupled with a healthy discussion about the push for a fully electric flying car. All of this to say that in Paris, we found our collaboration, our history in aerospace with Boeing and many other companies on full display. The state delegation and its booth received the Best in Show award for its tremendous display, engagement and connection with attendees.
In the end, our local powerhouse, The Boeing Co. finished the show with new orders and commitments for more than 350 aircraft. This year’s show was a tremendous boost in diversification, energy advancement and futuristic growth. Boeing said its 787 family is selling at the highest rate in its history, receiving more than 250 orders and commitments in the past six months.
It is clear that the future is bright in aerospace.
The Paris experience was tremendous, it wasn’t simply the romanticism of Paris, the Eiffel tower, cruises on the Seine, or a visit to beautiful Nantes for many of our delegation, nor the image of French monarchs that reminded me of the 1980s rich, Rick James hairstyles; it was the high-flying aircraft that pierced the skies and the sound barriers as exhibits were on display.
We found ourselves at home in Paris, contemplating the numerous global connections to Everett’s aerospace cluster.
EASC is thankful for the delegation that joined this year and eager to plan for an even bigger impact at the next Paris Air Show. We thank you all for your investment in our efforts and look to follow up with many of our leads this year to help attract and retain our aerospace and advanced manufacturing businesses in the city of Everett and all of Snohomish County.
Paris was proof that opportunity lives here. Bonjour!
Garry Clark is the president and chief executive officer for the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
