Monday at my first Paris Air Show delivered exactly what you’d hope for from one of the world’s most iconic aerospace exhibitions: cutting-edge tech, roaring flyovers from fighter jets, and unexpected moments that made a day trip to Le Bourget feel like a full-blown adventure.
An Aerospace Playground for the Technically Curious
From the moment I stepped onto the tarmac, it was clear this wasn’t your average industry event. Picture aerospace tech displays stretching across the grounds, military aircraft gleaming in the sun, and jets slicing through the air in tight, thunderous formations. It was a feast for the senses and the systems engineer within.
But amidst the spectacle, I made a point to stop by Chalet 395 to catch up with a key player in the ALM space. The booth belonged to PTC, and the conversation I had there, especially with their leadership on the ALM side, was both insightful and energizing. While I won’t name-drop, let’s just say the discussion reinforced the strategic direction we’re seeing across the industry: tighter integrations, smarter tooling, and AI-driven workflows becoming not just buzzwords but tangible enablers.
Smart Tools Meet Smarter Integration
One highlight of the day was PTC’s joint presentation in the afternoon, diving into how Codebeamer is evolving through integrations with Microsoft Copilot and GitHub. The potential here is massive. Seeing ALM solutions tap into AI and developer-centric platforms isn’t just impressive – it’s a strong signal of where the discipline is headed.
The demo-style insights showed how engineering teams could reduce friction between planning, coding, and compliance by bridging traditional ALM processes with modern, AI-supported development environments. It wasn’t theoretical. It was real, practical, and left the room buzzing.
Worth the Dash (and the Almost-Missed Taxi)
Now, about that flight home. My plan was to head straight back after the afternoon sessions, but the presentation was too good to skip. One eye on the runway (jets), one on my watch (counting down), I lingered longer than planned. Taxis crawled. My pulse raced. Let’s just say I made it to the airport with moments to spare, and zero regrets!
The connections made, ideas exchanged, and clarity gained about where ALM is heading? Absolutely worth it.
Takeaway: If the Paris Air Show taught me anything this year, it’s that the future of aerospace innovation doesn’t just soar in the sky – it’s being carefully orchestrated in the digital backbone of engineering: with tools like Codebeamer, and integrations that bring us closer to seamless, safe, and scalable development.