Paris Air Show officially opens amid ceremonies and strong expectations

The U.S. Pavilion officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday morning. The U.S. is the largest national group after the French, occupying nearly two football fields-worth of booths and displays of the latest aerospace technologies.

The U.S. contingency in Paris anticipates doing brisk business this week, with numerous orders expected. There are 217 U.S. companies exhibiting in the U.S. Pavilion including 39 AIA member companies and 13 State agencies.

A new addition to the Pavilion in 2011 is the Alternative Fuels Aviation Showcase, a joint project between Kallman Worldwide and SIAE featuring 20 supplier companies supported by six major airlines and a number of international government agencies and trade associations.

The opening ceremony included Senator Inouye, Air Force Secretary Donley, U.S. Ambassador to France Rifken, Secretary of Transportation LaHood and others.