Share this page :

The Age of Pioneers: Reinventing Aviation with Hydrogen

Publication Date

28 July 2026

Category

Research

Tag

Aviation

DAEP

Decarbonization

Research

For the past ten years at ISAE-SUPAERO, research into hydrogen has established itself as a major focus of innovation in support of the aviation sector’s energy transition. Now, more than ever, the pioneering spirit drives the Institute’s researchers. The Mermoz hydrogen-powered drone project builds on the legendary legacy of the Aéropostale and Jean Mermoz’s 1930 flight across the South Atlantic. Almost a century later, "Défi Mermoz" is in turn taking up a technological challenge, closely aligned with industrial priorities, without waiting until 2050!

Hydrogen: A Major Area of Innovation at ISAE-SUPAERO

Small but strategic: the Mermoz drone, a flying hydrogen laboratory

By developing a small hydrogen-powered aircraft, ISAE-SUPAERO aims to make a tangible contribution to the decarbonisation of aviation through experimentation.

The full potential of this energy source is being explored:

performance,
constraints,
technological barriers,
as well as prospects for both civil aviation and defence.

To address these questions, scientists are adopting a resolutely experimental approach involving small quantities of hydrogen, enabling them to rapidly build up expertise whilst managing risks.

“We are testing theory against experimental validation, which is a powerful driver of innovation,” emphasises Jean-Marc Moschetta, professor of aerodynamics at ISAE-SUPAERO.

From gaseous hydrogen to liquid hydrogen

“For aviation, hydrogen will be liquid or it won’t be at all,” states the researcher. “Only the switch to liquid hydrogen will allow us to capitalise on hydrogen’s high energy density without suffering the weight penalty associated with pressurised gaseous hydrogen.”

Indeed, hydrogen pressurised to 300 bar requires very strong and heavy tanks, whereas in liquid form, it is possible to carry larger quantities of hydrogen whilst keeping the weight of the tanks under control. Furthermore, in liquid form, hydrogen takes up less space than in pressurised gaseous form.

For small aircraft, ranging from small drones to regional aeroplanes, hydrogen can be used to generate electricity via a fuel cell. An electric motor is then powered to drive a propeller. However, for heavier aircraft, the power requirements mean that hydrogen must be used in a combustion process.

This is why the turbofan engines fitted to current airliners must be adapted for this new fuel. Unlike kerosene, the exhaust gases released when using hydrogen do not contain CO₂ but consist mainly of water vapour and, potentially, lower levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Read: The First Franco-Korean Workshop on the Challenges of Cryogenic Hydrogen

Combining science and testing to master the liquid hydrogen propulsion system

Beyond the technical objective of flying the Mermoz drone 3,000 kilometres without emitting any CO₂, ISAE-SUPAERO’s interest lies in developing expertise in a disruptive technology that is still very poorly documented in the field of aeronautics, even though cryogenic hydrogen is commonly used in the launch vehicle sector.

There are specific constraints involved in integrating hydrogen into a commercial aircraft, particularly due to economic considerations, operational reliability, and safety on board and at airports.

“On a small scale, such as in the practical work offered to students on low-power propulsion systems, or using a mini-drone weighing less than 25 kg like Mermoz, we are experimenting,” emphasises Jean-Marc Moschetta, “with the implementation, within a short timeframe and with low risk, of systems representative of hydrogen aviation, covering operational aspects such as refuelling, leak tests, failure scenarios, mission profile optimisation, etc.”

A three-pronged strategy supported by partners

Researchers at ISAE-SUPAERO are focusing their work on three areas of research in collaboration with various laboratories, companies and institutions that provide support through programmes dedicated to this topic.

Thermal management and energy optimisation of the propulsion system

Hydrogen, carried on board either as a high-pressure gas or in liquid form at very low temperatures, can be used either in a combustion chamber to react with oxygen from the air and drive a turbine, or be brought into contact with oxygen via a proton exchange membrane in a fuel cell or hydrogen cell.

The latter produces, on the one hand, electricity to power a permanent magnetic motor; on the other hand, it also produces water, which must be discharged into the environment; and finally, heat, which, in the case of a cryogenic tank, is used to warm the hydrogen from the tank before it enters the cell.

“The optimisation of the hydrogen propulsion system involves an in-depth thermodynamic analysis, which formed the subject of a doctoral thesis defended in December 2025 under the joint supervision of ISAE-SUPAERO and the LAPLACE laboratory,” recalls Jean-Marc Moschetta. “Furthermore, certain specific phenomena, such as sloshing in liquid hydrogen tanks, are currently being modelled as part of planned collaborations with SIEMENS and CT Engineering,” adds the researcher.

On-board safety and operational safety

Compared with natural gas, a hydrogen leak produces a potentially explosive atmosphere at concentrations as low as 4%. Since the dihydrogen molecule is very small, leaks in distribution systems pose a real risk that requires hydrogen detectors and ventilation or nitrogen inerting measures.

A risk analysis using a ‘model engineering’ approach, calibrated against measurements taken on a test bench, is being carried out at ISAE-SUPAERO in collaboration with SIEMENS Software. The aim is to examine various failure scenarios and develop contingency plans.

Furthermore, handling hydrogen creates a psychological barrier linked to the hazardous nature of the material and its use. The historic Hindenburg airship disaster in 1937 still weighs heavily on people’s minds when it comes to gaining public acceptance.

Mastering cryogenics in the context of aviation

Modelling the propulsion system – and in particular the thermodynamic properties of the fuel tank (gravimetric index and evaporation rate) – is the cornerstone of hydrogen-powered aircraft design. This is the focus of the ARCHY (ARCHitecture of Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft) project, which began in January 2025 and is continuing in the form of a postdoctoral research programme in collaboration between ISAE-SUPAERO and ENAC, coordinated by the Institute for Sustainable Aviation (ISA) with the support of the Occitanie Region.

The aim is to study innovative architectures for medium- and long-haul commercial aircraft powered by hydrogen, as well as their impact on aviation’s decarbonisation pathways. This project involves collaboration with engineers from the AIRBUS ZeroE programme.

At the same time, the DRONE LIQUIDE project, supported by the Defence Innovation Agency of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, is developing an experimental approach to cryogenic hydrogen for aviation. It focuses on conducting ground and flight tests of an ultra-long-endurance drone powered by cryogenic hydrogen.

Launched in February 2025, this project will involve the acquisition of a titanium tank and the deployment of a hydrogen liquefier to refuel the drone prior to its catapult launch, as part of a partnership with the LAPLACE laboratory and H2-Pulse, the project lead. The acquisition of this mobile liquefier and the development of expertise in its operation are supported by the CRYOFLY project, funded in part by the Occitanie Region and the GENHyO programme – Hydrogen Generation in Occitanie.

The Mermoz drone takes to the skies

In 2023, the Mermoz drone, a flying laboratory developed by researchers at ISAE-SUPAERO, carried out its first flight tests whilst carrying gaseous hydrogen. 2026 will mark the first stage of flight tests using cryogenic hydrogen.

Thanks to the miniaturisation of the propulsion system, an in-depth analysis of all stages has enabled:

the design and construction of the drone, an iterative process carried out in collaboration with DAHER,
the management of operational aspects in conjunction with DELAIR,
the acquisition of a vehicle equipped for flight testing of instrumented drones, supported by

the CERTIDRONE project, linked to a State-Region Plan Contract (CPER) with the Occitanie Region,

the purchase, as part of this same equipment programme, of a Doppler Lidar and a catapult to facilitate take-off from unprepared terrain. Finally, an integration and flight test preparation workshop, known as DroneLab, serves as a base for fine-tuning the systems prior to field operations.

In addition to the on-board hydrogen, two other energy sources are being investigated to supplement the energy generated by the hydrogen fuel cell: photovoltaic energy (study currently underway with LAAS-CNRS), and wind-gradient energy harvesting, utilising the phenomenon of gradient lift commonly exploited by birds of the Southern Seas such as the albatross.

By 2027, the research team aims to carry out long-endurance flights using cryogenic hydrogen in a small fixed-wing drone (4 m wingspan, 13 kg). These flights are expected to take place at the Istres base with the support of the Flight Test Centre of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA/EV).

Will the Mermoz drone, a century after Jean Mermoz’s feat, continue the same tradition of innovation and promise for aeronautics?

Experts Tackling the MERMOZ Challenge

Jean-Marc Moschetta,professor of aerodynamics at ISAE-SUPAERO

Nikola Gavrilovic, professor, modelling, design, flight testing, fine-tuning

Baptiste Legrand, postdoctoral researcher, safety analysis, system modelling

Romain Jan, postdoctoral researcher, thermodynamic and structural modelling of tanks

Dominique Bernard, safety pilot, flight preparation, on-board integration

Henri Dedieu, hydrogen technician, flight test equipment

Bastien Schnitzler, PhD student, optimal trajectory planning

Sofia Mertika, PhD student, thermodynamic modelling and energy optimisation

Advanced Master in Sustainable Aviation, delivered by ISAE-SUPAERO and ENAC

Publication Date

19 May 2026

Category

Tag

Advanced Master

Decarbonization

Education

Sustainability

Research, Innovation & Training supporting Aviation Sustainability: web Conference by TSAAE

Publication Date

19 May 2026

Category

Tag

Aeronautics

Aviation

Conference

Decarbonization

Sustainability

Webconference: Perspectives on Sustainable Aviation from TSAAE x MIT – “Vulnerabilities in a Changing World”

Publication Date

02 April 2026

Category

Tag

Aviation

Conference

Decarbonization

Sustainability

Perspectives on sustainable aviation

"Vulnerabilities in a changing world"

Discover exclusive information on sustainable aviation, presented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Toulouse School of Aviation and Aerospace Engineering (TSAAE, in collaboration with ENAC and ISAE-SUPAERO).

As the aviation sector faces environmental, socio-economic and operational challenges, decarbonisation has become a strategic imperative.

TSAAE is pleased to invite you to an exclusive online webconference to mark the launch of its new Advanced Masters in Sustainable Aviation, a 100% online and largely asynchronous programme aimed at professionals and students from around the world.

This one-hour webconference will combine academic excellence with a special contribution from MIT and TSAAE, to explore current vulnerabilities and future pathways towards a more sustainable aviation ecosystem.

Programme:

Introduction by Mathy Gonon (ENAC) – Presentation of the Advanced Master in Sustainable Aviation
Opening speech by Florian Allroggen (MIT) – Economics and sustainable aviation
Perspectives by Marie-Pierre Cassagne (ENAC) – Professional and individual perspectives
Live demonstration by Nicolas Gourdain (ISAE-SUPAERO) – of the Advanced Master in Sustainable Aviation
Interactive question and answer session
Conclusion – Access to exclusive TSAAE content

📅 Date: 20 April 2026
🕐 Time: 13:00 – 14:00 (CET)
📍 Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)

Join us to find out how you can become a key player in building the future of sustainable aviation!

Biography: Dr Florian Allroggen is a Senior Research Fellow at MIT and Executive Director of its Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment. His work focuses on aviation innovation at the intersection of energy, fuels, and economics, with a particular emphasis on sustainable aviation fuels and emerging energy systems. He develops and applies techno-economic and life-cycle assessment methods, cost-benefit analysis and market modelling to evaluate system-wide impacts and inform decision-making. He is the course leader for MIT’s Air Industry course.

TSAAE website
Advanced Master Sustainable Aviation (SA)

Registrations

Web conference “Research, Innovation & Training supporting Aviation Sustainability” – TSAAE by ISAE-SUPAERO & ENAC

Publication Date

03 February 2026

Category

Tag

Aviation

Conference

Decarbonization

Sustainability

Would you like to discover how ISAE-SUPAER and ENAC have fully integrated the challenges of sustainable aviation ?

As part of the launch of the Advanced Master in Sustainable Aviation, we invite you to hear from experts who will share how research, innovation and training have adapted to challenges of the environmental transition.

Webinar in English, registration required

⏰ Friday 20 February 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Programme :

Introduction – Marie-Hélène Baroux
Research & Sustainable Aviation – Laurent Joly
Innovation & Sustainable Aviation – Joseph Risson
Academics & Sustainable Aviation – Isabelle Laplace & Nicolas Gourdain
Conclusion – Olivier Chansou

✅ Register now to explore this key topic for the future!

The first Franco-Korean workshop dedicated to the challenges of cryogenic hydrogen

Publication Date

27 October 2025

Category

Research

Tag

Aeronautics

Decarbonization

News

With this in mind, the first Franco-Korean workshop on cryogenic hydrogen for aviation was held at ISAE-SUPAERO on 13 and 14 October 2025.

Jointly organised by Jean-Marc Moschetta, professor at ISAE-SUPAERO, and Dr Seo Young Kim, CEO of the South Korean company Hylium Industries, this event brought together nearly fifty researchers, engineers, industrialists and institutions with a common objective: to accelerate the development of concrete solutions for low-carbon air transport.

An event supported by the Occitanie Region as part of the Génération Hydrogène Occitanie (GENHyO) programme.

Hydrogen, a promising fuel for decarbonising the aviation sector

The adoption of hydrogen as a fuel represents a major opportunity to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint. By replacing paraffin, a fossil fuel, with hydrogen produced in a low-carbon way, it would be possible to avoid emitting thousands of tonnes of CO2 every day. This transition would make it possible to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve air quality and actively combat global warming.

Major steps have already been taken in the development of this technology. Several demonstrators carrying gaseous hydrogen have flown successfully. Today, research is continuing with liquid hydrogen, which is more efficient but also more complex to handle.

Indeed, liquid hydrogen has exceptional characteristics: an energy density three times greater than paraffin and combustion that produces only water vapour. Stored at -253°C, it can power fuel cells and combustion engines alike.

But these advantages come with major technical constraints: management of extreme cold, secure cryogenic tanks, fine-tuned management of the risk of leaks, and entirely new refuelling logistics. All these challenges provided food for thought and discussion over the two days of this Franco-Korean workshop.

Two days to share knowledge, advance science and remove technological barriers

The event, co-organised by ISAE-SUPAERO and the Korean company Hylium Industries, brought together major players from both countries, including

Major groups such as Airbus, Safran and Liebherr Aerospace,
SMEs and start-ups Absolut Hydrogen, H3 Dynamics, H2Pulse, DELAIR, CT Engineering, ARESIA, AKIRA, FINIS TERRAE,
as well as research institutions and universities Politecnico di Torino, Seoul National University, Kookmin University, University of Seoul and Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Laboratoire LAPLACE, Institut Clément Ader, and the French Embassy in Seoul.

In seven themed sessions, the workshop illustrated the diversity of approaches to hydrogen in aviation.

Session 1 – Hydrogen liquefaction: producing and storing liquid hydrogen

The work presented in this first session focused on the liquefaction and cryogenic storage of hydrogen. The aim is to improve the energy efficiency and thermal stability of cooling systems, which are essential for producing liquid hydrogen at -253°C.
Discussions also focused on insulating materials and tank design processes, in conjunction with Airbus and Safran.

Sessions 2 & 3 –LH₂ tank modelling and testing: modelling, designing, testing

These sessions explored the fundamentals of cryogenic tank design and safety, a central issue for on-board storage.
The presentations highlighted advances in lightweight materials, thermodynamic simulation and applications for drones and commercial aircraft.

Session 4 – Hydrogen-powered drones: hydrogen takes flight

This session presented the concrete applications of hydrogen in light air mobility, with drones capable of flying twice as long as battery-powered ones.

Session 5 – H₂ fuel cells: fuel cells for aeronautics

Presentations showed the diversity of fuel cell technologies adapted to aeronautics, with ammonia systems for airport infrastructures, intelligent diagnostics for predictive maintenance, and high-power prototypes (up to 500 kW).

Sessions 6 & 7 – Hydrogen for operational mobility: towards commercial hydrogen flights

Finally, the discussions in the last two sessions highlighted the large-scale applications of liquid hydrogen for air and ground mobility. The focus was on cryogenic test benches, refuelling safety and Airbus-ISAE-Safran collaboration on future architectures.

Solid prospects for Franco-Korean research and cooperation

This first Franco-Korean workshop marked an important stage in cooperation between France and South Korea on hydrogen applied to aeronautics. By bringing together researchers and engineers in Toulouse to discuss cryogenics and hydrogen propulsion, the workshop provided an opportunity to compare scientific approaches, identify technological complementarities and outline joint projects.

From a scientific point of view, the prospects are opening up around several axes: the optimisation of liquefaction processes, advanced modelling of LH₂ tanks, the reliability of fuel cells and the scaling up of refuelling infrastructures. These are all projects where synergies can accelerate advances in research for sustainable aviation.

On an institutional level, the event consolidated the partnerships already in place between ISAE-SUPAERO, Hylium Industries, Airbus, Safran, Seoul National University, KIST and University of Seoul, while opening the way to new academic cooperation via the France Excellence, STAR, START and Brain Pool programmes.

These schemes for scientific mobility and exchanges of expertise will help to train a new generation of engineers and researchers capable of meeting the technological challenges of hydrogen flight.

“Korea has a technological and political lead in the field of hydrogen. This Workshop was an ideal opportunity for us to benefit from the experience of a delegation of 17 Korean experts in cryogenic hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells. I’m delighted with the innovative capacity of the French community mobilised by the event and the exchanges we had with our South Korean guests. I’m convinced that these synergies will enable us to launch some excellent collaborative projects on an international scale”, concludes Jean-Marc Moschetta.

By combining fundamental research, industrial innovation and international training, France and Korea are laying the foundations for a lasting alliance with a shared objective: to make liquid hydrogen the driving force behind cleaner, safer and more ambitious aviation.

Workshop « L’hydrogène cryogénique pour l’aviation »

The future of aeronautics is being written today by its engineers!

Publication Date

14 October 2025

Category

Tag

Aeronautics

Aviation

Decarbonization

Sustainability

At the controls of an electric aircraft, the Director General of ISAE-SUPAERO speaks to us and embodies a new era of pioneers: that of more sustainable, more responsible aviation.

Decarbonization of the aviation sector training

Publication Date

22 September 2025

Category

Tag

Aeronautics

Aviation

Decarbonization

Education

ISAE-SUPAERO and GIFAS open new training sessions dedicated to decarbonizing the aviation sector.

Decarbonising air transport for players in the industry

Designed to enlighten and equip players in the industry, this training course addresses the essential dimensions of decarbonisation and is part of a shared desire to accelerate the transition to more sustainable aviation.

📌 In partnership with GIFAS

Dates: 16 October 2025 – Toulouse | 06 November 2025 – Paris | 20 November 2025 – Online
Duration: 6 hours
Schedule: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Public: employees in the aeronautics and space sector
Location: ISAE SUPAERO, Toulouse | GIFAS, Paris
Course fee: €1,000 | €800 for GIFAS members
Language: French

Find out more

“Futurs Proches” Festival in October 9: tickets are now available!

Publication Date

11 September 2025

Category

Event

Tag

Corporate responsibility

Decarbonization

Event

News

Social responsibility

Sustainability

2nd Futurs Proches Festival

Futurs Proches #2 aims to bring together the entire university community to discuss the challenges of environmental and societal transition: raising awareness, taking action and becoming a player in the transition!

Staff, students and doctoral students, this free festival is for you!

You are warmly encouraged to discover and take part in the activities on offer from among the more than 250 events programmed on all the campuses in Toulouse and those of the 10 University Towns of the Toulouse COMUE.

A variety of formats: Shows, Theatre, Music, Sports activities, Walks and Visits, Workshops and Treasure Hunts, Conferences, Games and Escape Games, Forums, Exhibitions, Villages, etc.

Various themes: Climate, Biodiversity, Sexuality, Health-Wellbeing, Industry-Technology, Food, Water, Mobility, Economy, Aeronautics-Space, Equality, Disability, over 23 different themes.

The Institute's programme on 9 October

Various activities will be taking place on our campus, including a biodiversity walk, an escape game on disability, a conference on sustainable aviation, the screening of a film in competition at the International Environmental Film Festival followed by a discussion, a workshop on gender stereotypes, a debate on space tourism, a “healthy and responsible eating” breakfast workshop, a seminar on space debris, para-escalation, and much more…

Don’t hesitate to sign up!

Capacity is sometimes very limited, so don’t delay!

@Staff: you are encouraged to take part in the activities! Just let your management know.

@Students: call for volunteers: we need volunteers to welcome the public on Thursday 9 October. More detailed information will be sent to you shortly, but if you’re interested in joining the organisation and getting a behind-the-scenes look at the event, don’t hesitate to let us know: remy.dumonteil@isae-supaero.fr

TICKETS

Testimony from Alice Fabre, 2021 graduate of the TAS AERO Advanced Master

Publication Date

23 May 2025

Category

Tag

Aeronautics

Alumni

Decarbonization

Sustainability

Testimonial

Testimony of Alice Fabre

AM TAS AERO alumni class of 2021

Identity card

Last name: Fabre
First name: Alice
Title of Advanced Master® attended: TAS Aero, Aircraft
Design
Graduation year: 2021
Job: Eco-design engineer
Company: Airbus Commercial Aircraft
City: Toulouse
Country of residence: France

Her career before ISAE-SUPAERO

What was your academic background before joining ISAE-SUPAERO?

After two years in the ‘Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles’, I joined INSA Toulouse as a student in the Process and Environmental Engineering speciality (GPE, now GP3E). This course offers in-depth training in industrial, chemical and energy processes and the transformation of matter, as well as in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, renewable and fossil energies, environmental regulations and life cycle analysis.

Why did you choose to pursue a Advanced Master® at ISAE-SUPAERO?

My end-of-studies work placement at INSA, at Airbus, gave me the opportunity to explore aircraft life-cycle analysis and planetary limits. These environmental issues, applied to the aeronautics sector, aroused a keen interest and motivation in me. Wanting to deepen my knowledge in this field, I identified the TAS AERO Advanced Master® as an ideal course. Its global and sufficiently detailed approach to aeronautics, without focusing excessively on one specific aspect, corresponded perfectly to my expectations. What’s more, as my career ambition is to move into eco-design, the Aircraft Design specialisation offered me a valuable perspective on the different levers available.

Her experience at ISAE-SUPAERO

What lessons, projects or activities at the MS have impressed you the most?

The group project on the design of a hydrogen aircraft made a particularly strong impression on me, as it brought together some of the knowledge and skills I had acquired during the Advanced Master®, as well as my interest in alternatives that could help to reduce the environmental footprint of aviation. The project was made all the more interesting by the fact that it was being carried out in collaboration with ONERA. I also found that there was a good balance between theory and practice.

How does the AM contribute to your technical and professional skills?

This Advanced Master® gave me the knowledge I was looking for about the product itself, so that I could better master the technical aspects, such as the materials used and their limits, dimensioning, optimisation, constraints, etc. Many of these elements enabled me to learn more quickly in my current job, and are useful to me today. Many of these elements enabled me to train more quickly for my current job, and are still useful to me today.

Did you carry out a work assignment or internship during your AM?

After the 6 months of theoretical training, and instead of continuing with a 6-month internship, I was taken on by the IRT Saint Exupéry for a one-year assignment at ISAE-SUPAERO, to work on research topics in decarbonisation and reducing the environmental footprint. In particular, I contributed, on a small scale, to the Aeromaps tool (formerly CAST), and helped develop a Life Cycle Analysis module in an aircraft sizing and optimisation tool (FAST-OAD).

Her current career path

What is your current position? In which company or organisation do you work?

I’m an eco-design engineer at Airbus Commercial Aircraft.

What business sector are you in today?

In aeronautics.

How has your Advanced Master® contributed to your professional integration or career development?

As mentioned above, the Advanced Master® enabled me to acquire key elements about the design, functioning and operation of an aircraft. It also enabled me to add this knowledge to that which I already had in the environment, making my profile attractive to the aeronautical sector, for which decarbonation is a very topical subject.