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ISAE-SUPAERO and Safran inaugurate an innovation chair to train the engineers of tomorrow

Publication Date

02 October 2024

Category

Innovation

Tag

Chair

Company

Ingénieur généraliste (MSc)

Partnership

Safran, an international high-technology group operating in the aerospace and defence sectors, is strengthening its partnership with ISAE-SUPAERO by creating, with the support of the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation, a sponsorship chair focusing on innovation: “Innovating in a world in transition”. The aim of this three-year chair is to support the training of engineers capable of innovating in a world in transition.

Safran shares with ISAE-SUPAERO and its Foundation the desire to promote academic excellence and industrial innovation in the aerospace sector. This partnership enables us to strengthen our ties, contribute to the emergence of new skills, and support ambitious projects that meet the challenges of the future. Safran is proud to have supported the creation of this Chair, thereby helping to train the talent of tomorrow and drive forward key innovations for the future of the sector.
Eric Dalbiès – Group Executive Vice President, Strategy, Technology and Innovation, Safran

A Chair to meet the challenges facing the sector

The challenges facing the aeronautics and space sectors, such as the energy transition, New Space and digitalisation, mean that there is a growing need for accomplished professionals with the capacity to innovate. The aim is to combine the technical and methodological skills of engineers with the know-how that is essential for innovation (creativity, teamwork, customer approach, etc.) to enable them to become genuine agents of change.

Innovation and entrepreneurship are strategic pillars of ISAE-SUPAERO. On campus, students, doctoral candidates and teacher-researchers can take advantage of InnovSpace, an open, well-equipped space to create, develop and support their projects. In partnership with Safran and our Foundation, the Innovation Chair is a real springboard for taking this dynamic further.
Romain Buquet and François du Cluzel – ISAE-SUPAERO referents for this collaboration

The chair has three main focuses

Training

The Chair will provide financial support by awarding two excellence scholarships each year to promising young professionals so that they can join the Advanced Masters® in Innovation Entrepreneurship & Management (MS IEM). It will provide support for teaching experiments, study trips for students and support for the hosting and international mobility of professors, researchers and innovation experts.

The Foundation is delighted that this agreement marks the start of a new collaboration with Safran, based on a shared vision of training the innovative engineers of tomorrow. In addition to accelerating ISAE-SUPAERO’s innovation drive, the Chair has a strong social dimension, notably through scholarships that support young people embarking on their entrepreneurial adventure by covering part of their living expenses.
Agnès Trincal – Director of the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation

Support

This involves putting young entrepreneurs in touch with renowned experts through a series of conferences and workshops.

Start-up

The Chair also provides two start-up and life grants to young graduates of one of the ISAE-SUPAERO courses. Thanks to these grants, project leaders incubated in the Institute’s InnovSpace will be able to mature their project and give it a new dimension by joining the Advanced Masters® in Innovation Entrepreneurship & Management.

Projects relating to aeronautics, space, decarbonisation and sovereignty, as well as the behavioural skills of candidates and the maturity of existing projects, are all assets in the selection of candidates.

This new chair is an opportunity to perpetuate the relationship between Safran and ISAE-SUPAERO, which is already linked by technical partnerships and previously by the AEGIS chair dedicated to innovative propulsion systems for the next generation of aircraft!

CASTOR Chair: Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse and ISAE-SUPAERO, a win-win partnership

Publication Date

11 July 2024

Category

Company

Tag

Aeronautics

Chair

Company

Partnership

Space

Official signing of the Chair

It’s official: the signing of the industrial chair between Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse and ISAE-SUPAERO took place on Tuesday 9 July on the Institute’s campus, in the presence of the technical teams, Nathalie Duquesne, Managing Director of Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse and Olivier Lesbre, Managing Director of ISAE-SUPAERO.

On this occasion, the floor was given to the academic leaders to remind them of the objectives and give a progress report on the chair, which was launched on 1ᵉʳ January 2024:

Nicolas Binder, teacher-researcher, is head of the Turbomachinery and Propulsion group in the Aerodynamics, Energetics and Propulsion department at ISAE-SUPAERO and holder of the CASTOR chair.
Laurent Lachassagne, Head of the Aerodynamics, Thermal and Acoustics Group at Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS and holder of the CASTOR Chair.

What are the objectives of the research work carried out jointly by Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse and ISAE-SUPAERO as part of the CASTOR chair?

Laurent Lachassagne: Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse is a recognised supplier of air conditioning systems for aircraft. Our systems are essential for passenger comfort and safety. As part of this Chair, we are studying radial turbomachinery in order to make it more efficient and therefore less energy-consuming. Optimising the aerodynamics of our turbomachinery, thanks to our joint expertise, will enable us to offer aircraft manufacturers air conditioning systems that consume less energy and help reduce the CO2 emissions of future aircraft.

In addition to air conditioning, we also hope that this new generation of turbomachinery will bring us significant gains in terms of supplying air to the fuel cells used for electrical generation or propulsion on future aircraft.

Nicolas Binder: There are two types of radial turbomachinery: turbines and compressors. What makes our Turbomachinery and Propulsion team at ISAE-SUPAERO unique is that we have the same level of expertise in these two components. The team has been working on turbines for more than 30 years, and on compressors for 20 years, and publishes in the best journals in the scientific community devoted to turbomachinery. Our support can therefore have a major impact on the research and development activities of Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse.

CASTOR, "Chair for Radial Turbomachinery Aerodynamics"

In 2024, ISAE-SUPAERO and Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse strengthened a long-standing collaboration to develop and improve methods and tools for the aerodynamic design of turbomachinery wheels. This partnership takes the form of an industrial chair called CASTOR, "Chair for Radial Turbomachinery Aerodynamics". This public-private research partnership, co-financed by the French National Research Agency (ANR), is scheduled to run for 4 years. For the two entities, which have been partners for 25 years, the chair represents an opportunity to intensify their collaboration and to structure a joint research programme in support of research into low-carbon aircraft.

Your work with the Chair began on 1 January 2024. What has happened since the beginning of the year?

Nicolas Binder: Our research team has recruited a doctoral student, a post-doctoral student and a technician for the test bench, and we will be recruiting two other doctoral students between now and the end of the year.

In terms of research, we started with the compressors. We are currently experimenting with a particular compressor architecture, different from what Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse usually does. We received the machine and put it on our test bench a month ago. We want to find out how this compressor behaves when it becomes unstable. It should be pointed out that the flow of air in a turbomachine is one of the most complex aerodynamic situations you can find!As for the turbines, we will soon be setting up the test benches, and are already working on the measurement methods to be deployed.

Laurent Lachassagne: Under the aegis of Viviane Ciais, our aerodynamics expert and technical coordinator of the chair for Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse, several specialists from our teams are working with the Institute’s research team. We help them to familiarise themselves with the challenges of turbomachinery stage design. We make sure they understand the technological challenges we face and our expectations. Thanks to our experience, we can confront theory with reality, which is essential for the progress of our work. Finally, we supply ISAE-SUPAERO with turbomachinery ‘made in Liebherr’ for testing on ISAE-SUPAERO’s finely instrumented test benches.

What is so special and important about this partnership, both for Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse and for ISAE-SUPAERO?

Laurent Lachassagne: We’re strengthening a long-standing partnership that’s already working well. The chair will enable Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse to mobilise and finance over the long term the cutting-edge skills present in the ISAE-SUPAERO research laboratories, for the benefit of our future products. Thanks to this new collaboration, Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse will be able to continue to offer key technologies for the decarbonisation of aviation, with more efficient air systems for future aircraft that consume as little energy as possible.

We are also very pleased with the local nature of this partnership and the stronger link that has been created with ISAE-SUPAERO. Students at the institute may well be future employees who will already have received tailor-made training in our products.

Nicolas Binder: This partnership gives us access to the expertise of the Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse teams as well as to the company’s research resources, particularly through its test centre. In addition, this Chair symbolises the recognition of the relevance and applicability of the work of the ISAE-SUPAERO research teams by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. Finally, thanks to the substantial funding involved, the Institute will be able to strengthen its experimental and numerical capabilities.

Focus on the PTM test bench

The PTM (for Petites TurboMachines) test bench enables the operation and measurement of turbines and compressors with a rotating part diameter of between 2 and 20 cm, corresponding to a power range exceeding 100 hp for certain stages. Turbine inlet air temperatures can be as high as 250°C. Compressor inlet pressure can be lowered to levels equivalent to an altitude of 10,000 m. Sensors of various types are installed at strategic positions, for example just behind the rotating parts of the stage, in order to characterise the speed and orientation of the flow and monitor its evolution during operation. This measurement is made difficult by the complex shape of radial machines and by their small size, which means that measuring instruments have to be miniaturised.

About Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse

Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS develops, manufactures and maintains air systems for the aerospace industry. Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse is a Tier 1 system supplier and one of the world’s leaders, supporting its aircraft, helicopter and airline customers in their projects. The company employs more than 1,600 people at two sites in Toulouse and Campsas (Tarn-et-Garonne) and has a turnover of €690m in 2023. Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse is part of the aerospace and rail division of the Liebherr group.

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News

Listening to the Martian past: ISAE-SUPAERO at the heart of the ExoMars mission

ESA's ExoMars Rosalind Franklin mission to explore Mars will carry a unique instrument for recording sound and atmospheric data from the planet. The Institute has been selected by ESA and CNES for this major scientific collaboration.

DEOS

Researcher

Science

News

Focus on subsonic wind tunnels, aerodynamics in practice

The subsonic wind tunnels at ISAE-SUPAERO are used to study airflow over objects such as aircraft wing profiles. This equipment, supervised by a technical team, is used by both students and researchers in the Aerodynamics, Energy and Propulsion Department (DAEP).

Aeronautics

DAEP

Pages

Photonics Antenna Microwave PlasmaA (PAMPA) Scientific Group

The “Photonics Antenna Microwave PlasmaA” (PAMPA) scientific group is interested in electromagnetism in the fields of microwaves and photonics, as well as wave-plasma interactions.

DEOS

Doctoral student

PhD

Videos

FRENCH SUPERCAM INSTRUMENT RECORDING THE SOUND OF INGENUITY'S 4th FLIGHT

Located 80 meters from the rover at the moment of take-off, the small helicopter rose to 5 meters above the ground before covering a distance of 133 meters before returning to land where it had taken off from. SuperCam's scientific microphone, developed by ISAE-SUPAERO, recorded the sound emitted by the rotation of the Martian drone's blades during its flight. This sound has a characteristic frequency of 84 Hz, equivalent to the low “E” of a piano or the bass voice of a human being. “This is a big surprise for the whole scientific team,” says Naomi Murdoch, a researcher at ISAE-SUPAERO who is studying the data from the microphone. "Tests carried out in a Martian atmosphere simulator to design this instrument, and our theories of sound propagation, indicated that the microphone would have great difficulty picking up the sounds of the helicopter. Indeed, Mars' thin atmosphere strongly attenuates sound transmission. We needed a bit of luck to record the helicopter from such a distance. We're very pleased to have succeeded in obtaining this recording, which is proving to be a goldmine for our understanding of the Martian atmosphere". Developed jointly by ISAE-SUPAERO and a consortium of CNRS laboratories and its partners, coordinated by CNES, SuperCam's microphone is derived from a consumer model adapted to withstand the Martian environment. It pursues 3 substantial scientific and technical objectives of the Mars 2020 mission: Study the sound associated with laser impacts on Martian rocks, to gain a better understanding of their mechanical properties. Improving our understanding of atmospheric phenomena (wind turbulence, dust eddies, wind interactions with the rover, and now with the helicopter). Understanding the sound signature of the rover's various movements (robotic arm and mast operations, driving on normal or uneven ground, pump monitoring, etc.). The microphone was first switched on a few hours after Perseverance landed. It recorded the first Martian sounds generated by turbulence in the atmosphere. It is used daily in conjunction with laser rock ablation for chemical analysis of Mars. ABOUT THE MARS 2020 MISSION: NASA is relying on Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the development of the Mars 2020 mission. SuperCam was developed jointly by LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA) and a consortium of laboratories attached to the CNRS, French universities and research establishments. Several Spanish universities, led by the University of Valladolid, are also contributing to the instrument. CNES is responsible to NASA for the French contribution to SuperCam. The instrument is operated alternately from LANL and the French Operations Center for Science and Exploration (FOCSE) at CNES in Toulouse.

DEOS

Researcher

Space

News

2026 Partner Kickoff

Company

Event

Partner

Videos

Testimony of Eric Vicente, Director of Human Resources at Sabina Technics

Career

Company

Partner

Videos

Visiting professors at ISAE-SUPAERO: DAN SCHEERES

ISAE-SUPAERO est un établissement d'enseignement supérieur axé sur la recherche et l'innovation, qui s'engage à concilier excellence scientifique, visibilité académique et proximité avec les objectifs industriels. Ses activités de recherche ont contribué à faire de l'école un leader international non seulement en termes de programme d'ingénierie aérospatiale, mais aussi de programmes de troisième cycle, notamment ses masters (MSc) et ses programmes de doctorat en sciences de l'ingénierie. C'est pourquoi de nombreux acteurs internationaux clés de la recherche rendent visite à leurs homologues de l'ISAE-SUPAERO. Nous avons rencontré Dan Sheeres, professeur émérite de l'université du Colorado et titulaire de la chaire A. Richard Seebass au département des sciences de l'ingénierie aérospatiale Ann et H.J. Smead de l'université du Colorado à Boulder. Les recherches de Dan Scheeres couvrent des sujets allant de l'astrodynamique et de la navigation spatiale à la science planétaire et à la mécanique céleste, et il a publié de nombreux articles dans ces domaines. L'astéroïde 8887 a été baptisé « Scheeres » en reconnaissance de ses contributions à la compréhension scientifique de l'environnement dynamique des astéroïdes. Pendant son séjour à l'ISAE-SUPAERO, le professeur Scheeres et l'équipe des systèmes spatiaux pour les applications planétaires ont collaboré à l'analyse des données DART et au développement de concepts visant à étudier la structure interne des astéroïdes lors de futures missions spatiales. De plus, Dan Scheeres et l'ISAE-SUPAERO ont publié conjointement plusieurs articles dans « Nature » sur les astéroïdes et la mission DART.

DEOS

Researcher

Space

Pages

Institute for Sustainable Aviation

Created in 2021 on the initiative of internationally renowned academic institutions with longstanding academic expertise in aeronautics and air transport, the ISA is an institute dedicated to the challenges of aviation's transition to sustainability.

Aeronautics

Aviation

Decarbonization

News

« Académie Spatiale de Défense »: A Day of Strategic Reflection on the Future of Space

On May 19, 2026, ISAE-SUPAERO and its partners at the Defense Space Academy hosted and organized a day of discussions focused on France’s National Space Strategy. Bringing together government decision-makers, industry representatives, researchers, and military officials, this event provided an opportunity to pool expertise and foster collective reflection on the major challenges of sovereignty, training, and strategic autonomy in the space sector.

Defence

Event

Space

News

3 questions to... Loïc Jecker, S-Cube member from 2011 to 2013

Meet Loïc Jecker, member of S-Cube - SUPAERO Space Section - ISAE-SUPAERO's experimental rocket club, from 2011 to 2013.

Space

Student club

Student life

Pages

Recruit Your Future Talent

Throughout the year, ISAE-SUPAERO offers meetings and events to enable you to identify, attract, and recruit the best talent from among our future graduates and our alumni network.

Company

News

Airbus Defence and Space and ISAE-SUPAERO train members of the Peruvian space agency

Twenty engineers from the Peruvian space agency attended a training course in Toulouse, jointly designed by ISAE-SUPAERO and Airbus Defence and Space, to develop their skills in the field of space systems and space missions.

DCAS

Short internship

Space

Testimonials

"World Alumni Day": Three questions for Aude Vignelles, 1991 graduate of ENSICA's Aeronautical Engineering programme

Aeronautics

Alumni

Testimonial

Videos

Perseverance collects first Martian sounds: explanation by Dr. Naomi Murdoch & Dr. Alexander Stott

Dr Naomi Murdoch, researcher in space instrumentation and planetary science, and Dr Alexander Stott, post-doctoral fellow, tell us more about the physical characteristics of Mars' atmosphere, in particular the speed of sound and its attenuation. These analyses were published in Nature on April 1, 2022 by an international team led by a teacher-researcher from Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier University, and including scientists from CNRS and ISAE-SUPAERO.

DEOS

Researcher

Space

Pages

Integrated Air Transport System - Thalès

Aeronautics

Chair

Testimonials

Testimony from Axel Coulon, student (class of 2024) of the TAS ASTRO Advanced Master®

Advanced Master

Space

Testimonial

Pages

Train Your Staff in France

The constant evolution of the technology and methods to be deployed in an increasingly complex environment requires lifelong learning for managers in the industrial sector, particularly in aerospace.

Career

Chair

Civic service

News

MMX, Idefix® and cameras to understand Mars' moon

Studying the formation and origin of Mars' moons and bringing back samples: this is the extraordinary, ambitious international mission led by JAXA, in which ISAE-SUPAERO is participating alongside CNES.

DEOS

Researcher

Space

Events

16th EASN International Conference

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Event

News

An exceptional scholarship for an innovative project

Naomi Murdoch, a researcher in physics and planetology at ISAE-SUPAERO, has just been awarded the prestigious Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) for her planetary body study project called GRAVITE. This ambitious scientific project aims to design a variable gravity machine that will enable the simulation and study of extraterrestrial soils.

DEOS

Scholarship

Space

News

Meteorite impact reveals new insights into Mars

In September 2021, NASA's InSight mission recorded a meteorite impact. Analysis of the data by scientists has revolutionised our understanding of the internal structure of Mars and its evolution. Its mantle is not homogeneous, as previously assumed, but composed of a layer of molten silicates overlying the core. Press release from the IPGP - Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris: ‘The InSight mission reveals a molten layer at the base of the Martian mantle’.

DEOS

Space

News

BROMO: the joint venture project involving major European space industry players presented to ISAE-SUPAERO students

In December 2025, ISAE-SUPAERO welcomed major players in the European space industry (Airbus, Thales and Leonardo) for an exceptional conference on the BROMO project.

Conference

Space

Pages

Innovating in a World of Transition - Safran

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Chair

Videos

Arnaud Prost, ESA reserve astronaut and ISAE-SUPAERO alumnus: “I was incredibly lucky to be here”

Fighter pilot and reserve astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), Arnaud Prost returned to his former school on Thursday March 28 to meet 200 secondary school students as part of the ISAE SUPAERO OSE program. It was an opportunity for him to recall the “great memories” of his student experience at ISAE-SUPAERO, his long-standing commitment to the student social outreach program and the “Aquanauts” scheme he set up with OSE l'ISAE-SUPAERO. And in passing, he offers a few words of advice to young people who might dream of following in his footsteps: “Don't let yourself be convinced that one of these paths isn't for you!” A 2017 graduate of ISAE-SUPAERO, Arnaud Prost is among those selected for the ESA Astronaut Class of 2022, alongside Sophie Adenot and Anthea Comellini, both also alumni of the school. They join other illustrious ESA astronauts who have already studied at the school: Thomas Pesquet, Luca Parmitano and Samantha Cristoforetti. Since 1970, ISAE-SUPAERO has contributed to the progress of the space age through its training, research and innovation activities. As the only organization in France to offer degree courses (engineering, master's, specialized master's, doctorate) covering all 22 space-related themes identified by CNES, the Institute offers a royal road to space careers. For Arnaud Prost's full profile: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronauts/A

Alumni

Diversity program

Space

News

Space: Thomas Pesquet and Arnaud Prost will embark on two unprecedented space missions in 2027

France is stepping up its space ambitions. At the Choose France summit, the President of the Republic announced that French astronauts Thomas Pesquet and Arnaud Prost will take part in two commercial space missions in 2027, as part of an agreement between France and the American company Vast.

Alumni

Exploration

Space

Pages

Navigation, Radar, and Remote Sensing (NAVIR² eS) Scientific Group

The “Navigation, Radar and Remonte Sensing” (NAVIR² eS) scientific group is interested in the theoretical study of information sources and hybridization approaches for autonomous vehicle navigation applications.

DEOS

Doctoral student

PhD

Videos

ISAE-SUPAERO and Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology work on student space exploration projects

ISAE-SUPAERO received a visit from Professor Shine S R of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) on December 7 and 8. ISAE-SUPAERO signed a co #cooperation agreement with the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in 2020 and this visit was a perfect opportunity to discuss the deepening of #training and #research collaborations between our two institutions. ISAE-SUPAERO and IIST have already been cooperating for 4 years within the framework of Franco-Indian collaborative academic projects, involving students from ISAE-SUPAERO and IIST on subjects related to space exploration missions and with the participation of experts from CNES, IRAP and the Indian space agency (ISRO)!

Space

Videos

Video recap of the first edition of the Occitanie Talent Marketplace

Company

Event

Videos

From classroom to cockpit: flying activities at ISAE-SUPAERO

Take a video tour of the school's Lasbordes Air Operations Center (COAL). With a fleet of 9 light aircraft, the COAL offers 3 types of activities: - Pilot training to obtain the Private Pilot's License (PPL), which enables students to fly single-engine aircraft. - Practical work directly linked to the school's teaching programs, from flight mechanics to an introduction to flight test techniques for continuing education. - Research into human factors and pilot cognitive mechanisms in real time during flight. At ISAE-SUPAERO, engineering and Master's students are lucky enough to be able to take their pilot's license just a few kilometers from the campus. Several instructors accompany them and train them to fly. All are members of the Aerospace Vehicle Design and Operation Research Department, headed by Valérie Budinger.

Aeronautics

Programme

News

A look back at the 2024 Enterprise Village

The Village Entreprises was held at ISAE-SUPAERO on November 7. The event is organized every year to enable our students to meet, exchange ideas and make contacts with our partner companies.

Career

Company

Internship

Videos

A surprise from elsewhere... from the ISS...?

Hello earth? Thomas Pesquet speaking! Thomas Pesquet, French astronaut and famous ISAE-SUPAERO alumnus (class of 2001), is currently in the ISS as part of his new Alpha mission. He sent our students a personalized message from the European laboratory Columbus...

Alumni

Diversity program

Space

Pages

Spring Semester in Aeronautical Engineering

Immerse yourself in the world of aerospace in Toulouse, the European aerospace capital, with a semester taught in English combining excellent courses, cultural immersion, and proximity to major industrial players.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Aerospace summer program

Events

AASTRA Certificate: Introductory Webinar on July 9 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Air transport

News

Space Explorers: In a Desert, Six Students Simulate Life on Mars

Last spring, for four weeks, six students and one alumnus from ISAE-SUPAERO lived completely self-sufficiently at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). This base, located in the Utah Desert in the United States, is specifically designed to simulate living conditions on Mars.

Space

Student club

Pages

Our Specialised Studies Certificates

Our specialised studies certificates are designed for professionals. They enable you to develop skills and expertise in the fields of digital, aeronautics, space, project management, systems engineering, and artificial intelligence.

Advanced Master

Aeronautics

Aerospace

News

TAJP 2026: Five ISAE-SUPAERO Students at the Light Aviation Event

Every two years, the Young Pilots’ Air Tour (TAJP) brings together 45 young pilots. In 2026, five ISAE-SUPAERO students—Camille Oudot, Aurélien Dalot, Lucie Duval, Marc Vincent, and Auguste Chauviré—were selected to participate in this adventure organized by the French Aeronautical Federation (FFA). Their participation was particularly notable for Camille’s victory; he finished first in the final standings after two weeks of challenges, navigation exercises, and encounters across France. Camille, Aurélien, and Lucie reflect on their preparation, the highlights of this year’s event, the lessons they’ve learned, and how this experience fits into their careers in aviation.

Aeronautics

Aviation

Student life

News

ICCAS 2026, jointly organized by ISAE-SUPAERO, the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation, and Dassault Aviation, will take place on June 11-12, 2026.

Following the success of the 2022 and 2024 editions, we are delighted to announce 𝐈𝐂𝐂𝐀𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, organized jointly by ISAE-SUPAERO, the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation, and Dassault Aviation!

Aeronautics

Artificial intelligence

Aviation

Videos

3 questions to Marie Delaroche, 3ᵉ year student and MDRS 293 crew commander

Since February 18, seven ISAE-SUPAERO engineering students have been living a simulated Martian life and carrying out experiments in collaboration with CNES and several research laboratories at The Mars Society's Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in UTAH (USA)! For the second time, the mission is led by a woman: Marie Delaroche, a passionate #spaceexplorer, who was already part of crew 275 departing in 2023. We asked her 3 questions to find out more about the challenges of this mission and her feelings as #flightcommander! Alongside her, three young women and three young men in their 2ᵉ year of #engineering studies have taken on the roles of astronomer, scientist, botanist, journalist, health worker and onboard engineer. They are all members of the Mars Club ISAE-SUPAERO, a student association for the popularization of science focused on the Red Planet and the missions dedicated to its exploration and study. They are currently experimenting with AI4U, the artificial intelligence that assists astronauts in their daily tasks (environmental measurements, voice recognition, emergency exercises). They are also conducting a science popularization experiment in collaboration with secondary school pupils. Inspired by the film The Martian, in which an astronaut grows potatoes on the Red Planet, the aim of this experiment is to compare plant growth in Martian soil with growth in terrestrial soil! To follow their adventure, click here: https://mars.bde-supaero.fr/

Space

Student club

Student life

News

Thales and ISAE-SUPAERO strengthen ties to work towards a more sustainable air transport system

Aeronautics

Decarbonization

Partnership

Videos

Testimony of Florian Bonte, S2010 ISAE-SUPAERO alumni: creating opportunities through networking

Alumni

Career

Company

Pages

Chair for Eco-Design of AiRcraft – Airbus

The CEDAR Chair, a response to environmental issues in the aeronautics sector.

Aeronautics

Chair

News

Dassault Aviation and ISAE-SUPAERO renew their collaboration on the "Design and Architecture of Cognitive Air Systems" Research Chair

Chair

Company

Partnership

Pages

Our Semester & Short Programmes

Discover ISAE-SUPAERO's academic excellence through our semester and short programmes, open to international students.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Aerospace summer program

Testimonials

Testimony from Alexandre Bouraoui, engineering student by apprenticeship and IAC 2025 Award Winner

Final-year engineering apprentice, specializing in Industrialisation and Methods for Aeronautics and Space, Alexandre Bouraoui was recently honored at the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) in Sydney, where he won the prestigious Hermann Oberth Gold Medal in the Graduate category. We spoke with him about his award and his studies at ISAE-SUPAERO.

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Congress

News

SILOE, an experimental drop tower project selected by ESA and an ESPACE grant for Alexia Duchêne

The SILOE experimental drop tower project aims to study the cohesion of planetary surfaces. This student project is supported by ESA as part of its European ‘Academy Experiments’ program. Alexia Duchêne, SILOE project leader, has been awarded a scholarship of excellence from the Fondation des Ailes de France.

DEOS

Space

Videos

ISAE-SUPAERO and Airbus Defence and Space organize an international training course on space systems

Twenty engineers from the Peruvian space agency CONIDA (Comisión Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Aeroespacial) attended a training course in Toulouse designed jointly by ISAE-SUPAERO and Airbus Defence and Space! The aim? To develop their skills in space systems and space missions. The entire program was placed under the academic responsibility of AnnaFederica Urbano, a lecturer and researcher in space systems and launchers at ISAE-SUPAERO. The engineers took part in a preliminary satellite design project. At the end of the five-week course, they all obtained the Certificate of Advanced Studies awarded by ISAE-SUPAERO. For ISAE-SUPAERO and Airbus Defence and Space, this experience opens up prospects for future collaborations in training courses of this type for international customers and industrial and institutional partners. For more information: https://www.isae-supaero.fr/fr/actualites/airbus-defence-and-space-et-l-isae-supaero-forment-des-membres-de-l-agence/

Programme

Space

Videos

Feedback: a Latecoere engineer in the ISAE-SUPAERO laboratories

To strengthen the links between industry and research, more than 10 industrial R&D engineers have been made available to ISAE-SUPAERO as part of the France Relance plan! Cyril Geneste, research engineer at Latecoere, is one of them. Together with Miguel Charlotte, Associate Professor at the Institute, he looks back on this fruitful two-year collaboration. Their work, carried out in the ISAE-SUPAERO laboratories, focused on the behavior of aircraft door seals, which ensure cabin airtightness. Thanks to the Institute's cutting-edge equipment and academic expertise, Cyril Geneste was able in particular to carry out numerical modeling of seals in order to test their behavior. Students in their 3rdᵉ year of engineering studies were also involved in this work.

Aeronautics

Researcher

Pages

Support for the Development of the ISAE Group - GIFAS

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Chair

News

Let's make together a durable commitment to new horizons

Aeronautics

Horizons

Sustainability

Events

Decarbonization of the aviation sector training

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

Aeronautics

Aviation

Decarbonization

Videos

Meeting with Christophe Henno (S 1991) Director of Programs for Airbus Atlantic

Meeting with Christophe Henno (S 1991) Director of Programs for Airbus Atlantic

Career

Company

Partner

News

Training new skills for the future of space: COMETES is launched!

Company

Job

Space

News

Aviation and Climate: an assessment of transition scenarios for sustainable aviation compatible with the Paris Agreement

In 2021, ISAE-SUPAERO researchers Scott Delbecq, Jérôme Fontane, Nicolas Gourdain, Florian Simatos and Thomas Planès published the ‘Aviation and Climate’ report, summarising international scientific publications in order to provide the scientific information needed to understand the challenges of decarbonising air transport.

Aeronautics

DCAS

Decarbonization

News

The cockpits of the future at the heart of research at ISAE-SUPAERO

Researchers at ISAE-SUPAERO have been studying cognitive airborne systems, the virtual assistants that will help pilots in the cockpits of the future, for many years.

Aeronautics

DCAS

Videos

Training courses: space studies

Find out more about our courses and #information in the field of space! The space dimension is strongly developed within our various training courses, whether in specific streams or dedicated programs. French and international students alike are showing a keen interest in our educational programs in Earth observation and the sciences of the Universe, as well as in the design and operation of space systems. Space research and industry employ many ISAE-SUPAERO engineers. Explore the world of space!

Programme

Space

News

ISAE-SUPAERO expands its collaboration with TU Delft on sustainable aviation

Decarbonization

Partnership

Sustainability

News

3 questions to... Ervan Kassarian, S-Cube member from 2015 to 2017

Meet Ervan Kassarian, member of S-Cube - SUPAERO Space Section - ISAE-SUPAERO's experimental rocket club, from 2015 to 2017.

Space

Student club

Student life

News

Electric aircraft flights to raise awareness of carbon-free aviation

In June, twenty-four students and staff members from ISAE-SUPAERO had the opportunity to fly on the Velis Electro, the world's first certified 100% electric aircraft.

Aeronautics

Decarbonization

Sustainability

Events

Les Assises du New Space 2025: discussions and debates on NewSpace!

The 2025 edition of the Assises du New Space will be held this year on July 8-9, 2025 at the Centre des congrès de la Villette - Cité des sciences et de l'industrie in Paris. Aimed at all players in the French space ecosystem, this event is a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and debate around NewSpace, and to discover the latest technological innovations and project financing opportunities. Registration is now open!

Conference

Event

Round table

Pages

Space Systems for Planetology and Applications (SSPA) Scientific Group

The “Space Systems for Planetology and Applications” (SSPA) scientific group focuses on one main area of research: The development of missions and associated technologies for geophysical exploration of the solar system.

DEOS

Doctoral student

PhD

Pages

Our Ecosystem

Aerospace

Partner

Partnership

News

Decarbonisation of aviation: ISAE-SUPAERO launches training programme for professionals with GIFAS

This one-day training course aims to help employees in the aeronautics sector play an active and informed role in the decarbonisation of the sector. The first two sessions will be held on Thursday 3 April 2025 in Toulouse and Thursday 10 April 2025 in Paris.

Aeronautics

Decarbonization

Programme

Events

ISAE-SUPAERO will be at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget from June 16 to 22, 2025

ISAE-SUPAERO will be present at the 55ᵉ Salon International de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace at Le Bourget from June 16 to 22, 2025!

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Event

Events

The "Assises du NewSpace" returns on July 7 & 8, 2026!

Event

Space

Pages

Communication and Information Theory (ComiT) Scientific Group

The “Communication and Information Theory” (ComiT) scientific group is involved in the disciplines of digital communications, radar, and channel access techniques. Its fields of application include space systems, civil and military aviation, terrestrial cellular networks and the Internet of Things (IoT).

DEOS

Doctoral program

Doctoral student

Pages

Companies

Career

Chair

Civic service

News

ICCAS 2026: Artificial Intelligence for Operational Decision-Making

The fourth edition of ICCAS (International Conference on Cognitive Aircraft Systems) was held on June 11–12, organized in partnership with the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation and Dassault Aviation, as part of the Chair in Design and Architecture of Cognitive Aircraft Systems (CASAC).

Aeronautics

Aviation

Conference

News

ISAE-SUPAERO announces new partnership with ESA Academy to support future Master in Aerospace Engineering students

Aerospace

Master in Aerospace Engineering

Scholarship

Pages

Job offers

Aeronautics

Aerospace

News

ISAE-SUPAERO and Spaceflight Institute join forces to train tomorrow's manned flight experts

On July 29, 2025, ISAE-SUPAERO and the Spaceflight Institute signed a partnership agreement for the joint creation of a “Certificate of Advanced Studies in Human Spaceflight”. This new semester-long program aims to train a new generation of space professionals, combining academic excellence with operational expertise.

Certificates of advanced studies

Education

Space

News

Researchers from ISAE-SUPAERO contributed to the success of the first images from ESA's Sentinel 2c observation satellite.

The Sentinel 2c Earth observation satellite, launched on 5 September as part of ESA's Copernicus mission, has delivered its first images. This success is partly due to the image sensor research team (CIMI) at ISAE-SUPAERO, which designed and oversaw the manufacture of the visible image sensors.

DEOS

Space

Testimonials

Testimony from Stéphanie Lizy-Destrez, elected member of the Air and Space Academy

DCAS

Space

Teacher researcher

Videos

Orbit Your Thesis: ISAE-SUPAERO in zero gravity with the AIM experiment

Artery In Microgravity (#AIM), the first student scientific experiment designed and developed in collaboration since 2018 by ISAE-SUPAERO and Polytechnique Turin, was launched on 23 November 2022 by Space X's Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS)! Selected by the ESA as part of its ‘Orbit your thesis’ programme, AIM aims to study the behaviour of the heart and its arteries in space, in order to determine whether people with heart problems will one day be able to stay there.

Prize

Space

Videos

Sylvestre Maurice presents the SUPERCAM / Martian Exploration educational kit

The ‘SUPERCAM - Martian Exploration’ educational kit project was initiated by five partners: ISAE-SUPAERO, the Toulouse Academy, CNRS, CNES and Cité de l'espace. Under the guidance and supervision of astrophysicist Sylvestre Maurice, first-year students at ISAE-SUPAERO developed this educational tool to raise awareness of space exploration in classrooms, from sixth form to final year. This kit is available to middle and high school teachers and can be adapted to offer educational lessons related to this theme.

Diversity program

Equal opportunities

Researcher

News

Hera probe captures exceptional images of Mars and its moon Deimos

DEOS

Researcher

Science

Pages

Train Your Customers, Partners, and Employees Internationally

Company

Partner

Partnership

News

Staffing services: a win-win solution

Partnership

News

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

The global aviation industry is facing an urgent challenge: significantly reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen, thanks to its unique properties and considerable energy potential, appears to be a promising solution and could play a key role in the aviation sector's energy transition.

Aeronautics

Decarbonization

News

ISAE-SUPAERO's researchers are working on establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

While last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 17 mission, the last manned trip to the Moon, the development of ‘New Space’ has revived the space sector's interest in lunar exploration.

DCAS

Space

Videos

Testimony of Pauline Heuze, Recruitment Assistant at Liebherr Aerospace and Transportation

Career

Company

Partner

News

ISAE-SUPAERO and GIFAS offer training to accelerate the decarbonization of air transport

Aeronautics

Company

Decarbonization

News

10 years of progress in neuroergonomics at ISAE-SUPAERO supported by AXA Fonds pour la Recherche

Chair

Company

Partnership

Testimonials

Testimony of Juan-Carlos DOLADO-PEREZ, alumni of the 2008 Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Alumni

Space

Testimonial

Pages

Design and Architecture of Cognitive Air Systems Research Chair - Dassault Aviation

The CASAC Chair, supported by the Neuroergonomics Centre at ISAE-SUPAERO, is backed by Dassault Aviation, which is affirming its commitment to the mastery of complex systems.

Aeronautics

Chair

News

Happy New Year, Martians!

Today marks the start of Year 39 on Mars: a Martian year lasts 687 Earth days, which is equivalent to nearly two years on our blue planet. Here’s a look back at the projects, missions, and discoveries that bring ISAE-SUPAERO closer to the Red Planet every day.

Research

Space

News

DART: ISAE-SUPAERO students publish new scientific findings in Nature Communications

Naomi Murdoch, a planetary science researcher at ISAE-SUPAERO, is actively involved in scientific analysis and data interpretation for NASA's DART mission.

DEOS

Space

Videos

Pierre-Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group: European leader in naval defense and partner of ISAE-SUPAERO

Discover the interview with Pierre-Eric Pommellet, Chairman and CEO of Naval Group and ISAE-SUPAERO alumnus, who talks about cooperation between schools and companies.

Career

Company

Partner

News

The Jupiter system: a unique laboratory for a major scientific breakthrough

Nicolas André, teacher-researcher at ISAE-SUPAERO, co-authors a major discovery in Nature Communications.

DEOS

Exploration

Space

News

Les Assises du New Space: update of the “Ambition NewSpace 2027” report

In 2022, the Assises du NewSpace collective - a group of players representing the French space industry - published the report “Ambition NewSpace 2027”. Today, the collective is launching another major national consultation to update this report and shape the future of French space!

Conference

Round table

Space

Testimonials

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

Aeronautics

Alumni

Decarbonization

Videos

Sophie Adenot is flying out on February 11th for a eight-month mission with Crew-12 on the ISS!

Today, the entire ISAE-SUPAERO community is coming together: students, staff, faculty, and alumni are showing their support for Sophie Adenot, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut and ISAE-SUPAERO alumna, as she embarks on a eight-month mission to the ISS. Sophie is the second French woman, 30 years after Claudie Haigneré, to fly on a long-duration mission. On the ISS, she will conduct around 200 scientific experiments, including 10 French experiments, covering fields such as medicine and materials physics. Have a good flight, Sophie. We will be following you throughout this amazing journey!

Alumni

Exploration

Space

Pages

The “Certificate of Advanced Studies in Human Spaceflight” offered by the Spaceflight Institute in collaboration with ISAE-SUPAERO

The Spaceflight Institute is the first institute dedicated to training in human spaceflight. In partnership with ISAE-SUPAERO, it offers an intensive training program that enables participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges of human spaceflight and to position themselves within a rapidly expanding ecosystem, marked by future lunar and Martian missions as well as the rapid emergence of commercial space stations and private initiatives in low Earth orbit.

Education

Innovation

Partner

Videos

Testimony of Joseph Risson, ingénieur 2024 alumni & co-founder of Viraj H2 From student to entrepreneur: that's the path Joseph Risson, a 2024 graduate, has taken at ISAE-SUPAERO!

Alumni

Career

Company

Pages

Prior Experience Accreditation

Advanced Master

Aeronautics

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UNIVERSEH

UNIVERSEH, the European Space University for Earth and Humanity, is an alliance of European universities created as part of the European Universities initiative launched by the European Commission in 2019.

Education

International

Science

News

Valentin LELOUP, quantum and optical telecommunications systems engineer: the quantum and space tandem

Valentin Leloup, R&D engineer at Thales, combines two fields of expertise: quantum physics and space. He holds an engineering degree from ISAE-SUPAERO 2022 and a Master 2 in fundamental physics and applications.

Alumni

News

Research

News

The 2025 Edmond Brun Prize from the French Academy of Sciences awarded to Annafederica Urbano, professor at ISAE-SUPAERO

On October 28, 2025, the Academy of Sciences awarded the Edmond Brun Prize to Annafederica Urbano, professor of space launch vehicles at ISAE-SUPAERO. This biennial physics award recognizes her entire body of work in the field of space propulsion.

DCAS

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Learning, Decision, Optimisation (ADO) Scientific Group

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PhD

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ISAE-SUPAERO and ENAC invite you to the “Rendez-vous Aéro de l'Innovation” on Thursday, February 5, 2026!

Aeronautics

Event

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Capturing the seismic activity of an asteroid: our Apophis rendezvous

DEOS

Research

Space

News

ICCAS, organized jointly by ISAE-SUPAERO, the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation, and Dassault Aviation, will take place on June 11 and 12, 2026

Aeronautics

Artificial intelligence

Aviation

News

Luca Parmitano, Artemis III astronaut: an ISAE-SUPAERO graduate at the heart of the next step in the return to the Moon

On June 9, 2026, NASA announced the crew for Artemis III, a key mission in the U.S. lunar program scheduled for 2027.

Advanced Master

Alumni

Space

News

Landing on Mars: a unique experience for seven students

Seven ISAE-SUPAERO students have been selected to join the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in the United States. This replica of a Martian base will host the crew for four weeks, during which they will live in conditions similar to those found on Mars. The objective is to conduct experiments in situ in collaboration with research partners.

Space

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AeroSCOPE, the first open-source database for exploring CO2 emissions from air transport

A doctoral student at ISAE-SUPAERO, Antoine Salgas has produced a photograph of CO2 emissions from air transport by country and by region. This unique work feeds into AeroMAPS, an open reference platform aimed at exploring scenarios for decarbonising air transport.

Aeronautics

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Content Related To'Partnership'

The 11th Parachute Brigade and ISAE-SUPAERO sign a framework agreement for the development of innovative field drones

Publication Date

02 July 2024

Category

Research

Tag

Defence

Ingénieur généraliste (MSc)

Partnership

On June 27th, General Frédéric Danigo, representing the 11th Parachute Brigade (BP), and Olivier Lesbre, Director General of ISAE-SUPAERO, signed a framework agreement to develop innovative field UAVs. The aim of this partnership is to establish a secure legal framework for collaboration between the two organisations. The agreement, for an initial period of 5 years, will enable a number of partnerships to be set up in various areas of research.

François du Cluzel, Head of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department at ISAE-SUPAERO, who is co-sponsor of this project, will ensure that the collaboration runs smoothly by means of the following actions:

exchanges of information, up to and including the provision of a state-of-the-art report on UAVs and the creation of concepts;
cooperative studies and analyses;
production of prototypes or demonstrators;
joint use of facilities for prototyping, testing, trials and experiments;
participation in integrated team projects, for a given period of human resources on the same site, including the possible use of reservists;
the loan of equipment and/or demonstrator(s) by one or other establishment.

In this way, the 11th BP will benefit from ISAE-SUPAERO’s expertise and facilities in drone research, as well as from the Institute’s innovation drive.

The topic of logistics drones is the first to give rise to a specific agreement. The aim is to be able to work together on a range of subjects of interest to the 11th BP and to its students and staff. This first project will most certainly also be the subject of an Engineering-Company Project (ECP) for 3rd year engineering students.

Alain Filipowicz – Alumni (S1988) and reserve colonel in the 11th BP, correspondent and responsible for monitoring and coordinating the agreement.

A win-win partnership!

Thales and ISAE-SUPAERO strengthen ties to work towards a more sustainable air transport system

Publication Date

04 March 2024

Category

Research

Tag

Aeronautics

Decarbonization

Partnership

Sustainability

New partnership between Thales, ISAE-SUPAERO and its Foundation

Patrice Caine, CEO of the Thales Group, was on the ISAE-SUPAERO campus on Wednesday February 28 to sign a new partnership between Thales, ISAE-SUPAERO and its Foundation. The partnership will take the form of a research chair in Integrated Air Transport Systems (STAI).

The aim of a chair? To promote an emerging discipline or area of knowledge, at the interface between academia and business and industry, in a mutually beneficial partnership. By drawing on the recognised skills of ISAE-SUPAERO in the optimisation of flight operations and the systems approach, and on those of the Thales Group in flight avionics, connectivity and air traffic control, this association will enable both Thales and the Institute to increase their level of excellence in the fields of modelling, AI and operational research.

"This privileged link will enable Thales and ISAE-SUPAERO to work together, with a different and complementary perspective, on extremely promising strategic development areas: understanding flight operations in their entirety with the aim of optimising them and limiting CO2 emissions as much as possible".

Bruno Nouzille Technical Director of Avionics at Thales

A thesis and eleven grants

This programme includes a research component, with support from Thales for the recruitment of a PhD student to work on the Chair’s projects. The work will be directed by Rob Vingerhoeds, professor of systems engineering in the Complex Systems Engineering Department (DISC) at ISAE-SUPAERO.

"The aim of this work is to gain as complete an understanding as possible of the current air transport system, to use modelling and simulation to make visible every aspect that could impact on the overall system, and to analyse any inefficiencies. This, in turn, will enable proposals for new operational concepts to be considered."

Rob Vingerhoeds Professor of Systems Engineering in the Complex Systems Engineering Department (DISC)

The STAI Chair

The STAI Chair also includes an excellence scholarship scheme, the aim of which is to attract high-calibre, high-potential students to ISAE-SUPAERO by offering them, with the support of the sponsoring company, substantial resources to help them achieve their ambitious academic projects. Eleven students from the Engineering and Master in Aerospace Engineering programmes will be honoured until 2027.

"Thales' contribution to these scholarships for excellence contributes to the international attractiveness of the Institute".

Agnès Trincal Director of the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation

A second partnership

This is the second partnership of this type between Thales and ISAE-SUPAERO. In 2015, the high-tech group and the Institute joined forces to create their first sponsorship chair in embedded systems engineering. The partnership led to the creation of a new training pathway, several modules and support for students via excellence grants.

An ISAE-SUPAERO delegation accompanies the Minister of the Armed Forces on a visit to Delair

Publication Date

01 March 2024

Category

Company

Tag

Meeting

Partnership

Student delegation from ISAE-SUPAERO

A delegation of military and civilian students from ISAE-SUPAERO and the Institute’s Director General, Olivier Lesbre, accompanied Sébastien Lecornu, Minister for the Armed Forces, on a visit to drone manufacturer Delair on Thursday 29 February in Toulouse.

On the theme of the war economy, the ministerial visit was organised on the occasion of the French government’s order to Delair for 150 intelligence drones to be used in the Ukrainian theatre of operations. Sébastien Lecornu also took the opportunity to announce an order for 2,000 kamikaze drones.

Dominique Faure, the French Minister for Local Authorities and Rural Affairs, was also present, as were several members of the staff of the French Defence Procurement Agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement).

Located in Labège, Delair has a special relationship with ISAE-SUPAERO, since the institute has supported the company since its creation and given it access to its resources, laboratories and students. For several years, these relations have been structured within a joint laboratory dedicated to long-endurance mini-UAVs. They are currently continuing with the Mermoz hydrogen drone project.

Training and research in the defence sector

Under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence, ISAE-SUPAERO is a major player in defence research. Strategic defence projects from the Institute’s laboratories are partly funded by the Defence Innovation Agency (DIA) in areas of strategic interest to defence, or of direct interest to it. The institute also works on behalf of industries directly linked to defence (ADS, Thales, Safran, etc.), for example by developing optical sensors for satellites for over 25 years.

ISAE-SUPAERO also trains military students. As an École d’application de l’X, the General Engineering course takes in around thirty Polytechnique engineers each year, as well as engineers from the Armaments Research and Engineering Department (IETA) undergoing initial training, and armed forces officers in the course of their careers.

Air conditioning systems: ISAE-SUPAERO and Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse join forces

Publication Date

22 January 2024

Category

Research

Tag

Chair

DAEP

Partnership

Closer collaboration

Working together to develop air-conditioning systems for the carbon-free aircraft of the future. Partners for 25 years, ISAE-SUPAERO and Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse strengthened their collaboration on 1 January as part of an industrial chair. This initiative, co-financed by the French National Research Agency (ANR), is designed to stimulate cooperation between public and private research bodies. Called CASTOR, “Chair for Radial Turbomachinery Aerodynamics”, it is scheduled to run for 4 years.

The aim? To make progress on the design of radial turbomachinery stages, which are at the heart of the air systems designed by Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse and in which ISAE-SUPAERO has cutting-edge skills and research infrastructures.

This work will give rise to three theses, two post-doctorates and the creation of a research engineer post, with the support of teams from the Aerodynamics, Energetics and Propulsion (DAEP) department at ISAE-SUPAERO and Liebherr Aerospace Toulouse. A doctoral student and a post-doctoral fellow are due to arrive at the ISAE-SUPAERO site in February. The total amount of €1.250 million, half from Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse and half from the ANR, will be used to finance equipment and subcontracting work.

Developing low-emission air conditioning systems for aircraft

In an aircraft, the air conditioning system regulates the pressurisation, temperature and renewal of the air in the cabin," explains Professor Nicolas Binder from DAEP. In other words, it is essential for passenger safety and comfort. Traditionally, compressed air is drawn from the engines to operate the system. But new carbon-free motorisation systems mean that independent air-conditioning systems have to be designed. To do this, we need to adapt the sizing of the components, which must satisfy new constraints. The research work of the CASTOR Chair is part of this development".

New low-carbon powertrain systems mean that independent air conditioning systems have to be designed. This means adapting the design of components to meet new constraints. The research work of the CASTOR Chair is part of this development.
Nicolas Binder – Lecturer and researcher at DAEP – ISAE-SUPAERO

Radial turbomachines are key components of the air conditioning system manufactured by Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse. They consist of turbine and compressor stages. In their design, it is crucial to finely optimise the shape of the blades to provide the best energy yields. And this applies regardless of the aircraft’s flight phase. “This requires a high degree of operating flexibility, without compromising performance,” explains Nicolas Binder. This design stage is vital if we are to offer aircraft manufacturers air conditioning systems that consume less energy for future low-emission aircraft.

The researchers will be exploring a number of avenues:

unconventional radial turbine configurations will be calculated and tested, to improve efficiency and operating ranges;
compressor stability will be assessed;
efforts will be devoted to advancing numerical and experimental methods.

The research initiated by the CASTOR Chair opens the way to numerous applications beyond the air transport sector. “A huge number of low-carbon systems involve this type of turbomachinery,” emphasises Nicolas Binder.

A win-win partnership

This Chair represents an opportunity for Liebherr Aerospace Toulouse and ISAE-SUPAERO to intensify their collaboration and structure a joint research programme.

It will enable Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse to mobilise and finance over the long term the cutting-edge skills present in ISAE-SUPAERO’s research laboratories, for the benefit of its future products. Thanks to this collaboration, the company will be able to continue to offer key technologies for the decarbonisation of aviation, with more efficient air systems that consume as little energy as possible for future aircraft.

For ISAE-SUPAERO, it symbolises the recognition of the relevance and applicability of the work of its research teams by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. What’s more, the resulting substantial funding will enable the institute to develop its experimental and digital capabilities.

Village Entreprises 2023, a look back in pictures!

Publication Date

14 December 2023

Category

Company

Tag

Career

Internship

Meeting

Partnership

Companies present:

Accenture
AdaCore
Air France
Akkodis
Alteia
ALTEN
ArianeGroup
Ascendance
ATR
AURA AERO
Bain & Company
Capgemini Capgemini Engineering
Collins Aerospace
Daher
DGSE
DyCSyT
EasyMile
ELDA TECHNOLOGY
EMBRYA SAS
Expleo Group
EY
GMV
HeadMind Partners
JoliBrain
Liebherr
MBDA
Mews Partners
French Ministry of Defence DGA – Direction générale de l’armement
NAVAL GROUP
Oresys
Parrot
PwC
ROB’OCC
SII
Sopra Steria
Tata Technologies
Viraj H2
Volocopter

Building tomorrow’s sky together

Publication Date

06 October 2023

Category

Institute

Tag

Partnership

Meeting with José Navarro Martin

What motivated you to join this scheme at ISAE-SUPAERO?

I’ve always wanted to get closer to academia and its research, and pass on what I’ve learned in industry. The pause in aeronautical activities during the pandemic and the French government’s recovery plan, which focuses on sustainable development, gave me this opportunity.

What project did you work on?

My secondment concerned the mechanical behaviour of composite materials in a harsh environment and their behaviour under thermomechanical stress derived from the use of liquid hydrogen as a fuel stored at cryogenic temperatures.

The aim was to propose a numerical model for analysing and predicting the behaviour of the material up to failure under static load, taking into account the requirements in terms of thermal cycling, permeability, damage tolerance and possible ageing due to direct contact with hydrogen.

We have developed a mesoscopic Finite Element (FE) model of the behaviour of a carbon fibre laminate, taking into account the effect of cooling and mechanical loading in the formation of microcracks. These microcracks create leak paths through the material that increase the permeability to hydrogen gas under pressure.

What have you gained from this collaboration in scientific and human terms?

On a human level, the whole team at the Department of Mechanics of Structures and Materials (DMSM), and especially my tutors, Laurent Michel and Yves Gourinat, gave me a very warm welcome. Despite working conditions that are still difficult in 2021, my integration into their team was complete from day one and the work was carried out in a friendly atmosphere. I was also able to help teach group tutorials for the engineering course and supervise internships and integration projects linked to hydrogen on the Specialised Master’s programme. The contact with the students has given me a great deal on a personal level. These collaborations have also enabled me to forge links with the other industrialists on site, thanks to the same recovery plan.

From a scientific point of view, I learnt an enormous amount about how to approach a problem without being driven by the need for immediate results, which is sometimes too prevalent in industry. I was also able to acquire skills in damage modelling and simulation that are not always available on a day-to-day basis in a design office whose main task is to design concrete products.

How will your collaboration with the Institute continue?

Unfortunately, the loan will come to an end at the end of the maximum two-year period stipulated by the French National Research Agency (ANR). However, the scientific and teaching collaboration will continue.

The subject of decarbonisation and hydrogen-powered aircraft is more topical than ever, and Airbus still needs to unlock the existing scientific barriers to the development of a lightweight fuel tank in line with the requirements derived from its use in the aeronautical field. I will also be continuing my collaboration with ISAE-SUPAERO as a part-time lecturer in this field.

More generally, what do you think of this collaboration between Airbus and ISAE-SUPAERO?

Research into the use of hydrogen in aeronautics is only just beginning. The arrival of specific laboratory equipment for tests in a cryogenic environment at the Institut Clément Ader from next year will enable us to apply and make progress on the characterisation and modelling of phenomena linked to the cryogenic use of composite materials. This secondment has enabled me to forge very important links with the researchers, teacher-researchers and staff at the DMSM and the ICA. I hope that, as in the film Casablanca, this will be just “the beginning of a beautiful friendship”.

A programme leading to certification for integrating hydrogen into aviation

ISAE-SUPAERO, Capgemini Engineering and EuroSae have developed a CapH2 certified executive education course dedicated to the integration of hydrogen in current and future aircraft architectures. ISAE-SUPAERO is responsible for coordination and scientific leadership, Cap Gemini for industrial project management and EuroSae for operational project management.

Operational since 2022, it is aimed at professionals in the aeronautical sector to help them make the transition to energy-efficient aviation. The first class (72 engineers) took the course during the 2022-2023 academic year and obtained their certificate in June 2023.

For Yves Gourinat, Professor of Structural Physics at ISAE-SUPAERO and scientific coordinator of the CapH2 course, the aim of the programme is to train and certify engineers from major European aerospace companies, giving them a global vision of the transformations to be made and the many technological challenges to be met.

Hydrogen is emerging as an effective alternative for reducing the environmental impact of the aviation sector. But this element, stored in liquid form, is difficult to handle because of its very low temperature and its fugacity. Its low density also requires 4 times more storage volume than paraffin.

These characteristics will therefore have an impact on the aircraft’s architecture, structures, materials and systems engineering, but also on regulations, compatibility with airport structures, etc. The use of this neo-fuel means that the aeronautical industry must take account of technological and societal changes.

One of the keys to success is increasing the skills of professionals in the sector. The CapH2 training programme responds to this by offering a 77-hour course including lessons and team projects based around three concepts: the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), the transformation of a 50-passenger commuter aircraft, and the cryogenic flying wing.

ISAE-SUPAERO’s many years of research into hydrogen and the aeronautical transition mean that the scientific aspect of the course can be integrated into a systems and interdisciplinary approach.

Staffing services: a win-win solution

Publication Date

15 September 2023

Category

Research

Tag

Partnership

Provision of personnel

Meeting with Quentin Bausière

What motivated you to join this scheme at ISAE-SUPAERO?

The pandemic compromised many research and development projects at Airbus, including the one I was involved in, which was stopped in December 2020. As a result, I started looking for a new technical challenge. The opportunity to take part in a 2-year academic research project came along at the same time and was just what I was looking for. Above and beyond a project specific to ISAE-SUPAERO, I wanted to take part in an exciting, ambitious project with real added value for my personal and professional development.

What project have you been working on?

I worked on the VIRTUOSE (VIRTUal testing of aeronautical compoSite structurEs) project on the study of composite aeronautical structures under complex loading. The project is being led by the Institut Clément Ader (ICA) and Joël Serra, a research engineer and winner of the Lopez-Loretta prize for excellence in academic research and a former student and doctoral student at ISAE-SUPAERO.

The aim of this research is to develop mechanical dimensioning methods to reduce the number of tests to be carried out during the development of a composite material aircraft structure. The aim is to combine numerical analyses with highly instrumented tests in order to improve the prediction of structural behaviour, so as to optimise structures and be more reactive in the design process.
I worked on both the development of the tests and their operation and modelling techniques. Working on all aspects of the project, from planning to carrying out the tests and using the results, was very valuable.

What have you gained from this collaboration in scientific and human terms?

This collaboration has enabled me to be in contact and exchange ideas with researchers of a high scientific and technical level. The testing equipment at the ICA is at the cutting edge of experimental techniques and enabled me to combine technical and scientific aspects. What’s more, the proximity of the researchers and the exchanges in various fields gave me an insight into fascinating research topics. Collaboration is really the key and the source of progress within the laboratory.

This collaboration will continue with your project. Do you think that this scheme could be extended to other research projects?

I will continue to be part of the VIRTUOSE project, in which Airbus is a major partner, until its end in May 2024. The test campaigns are underway and the participation of an Airbus employee means that we can work together to achieve the set objective and use these tests in companies.

These systems can be applied in other institutes or other academic research laboratories. In my opinion, it is in the interests of industry to work closely with researchers, so that they can continue to innovate. Researchers also have an interest in being in contact with manufacturers to understand their problems and their environment, so that they can support them in their technical and scientific challenges. The aeronautics industry is facing a number of technical and environmental challenges, and this is the ideal field in which to tackle them.

On a more personal note, what have you gained from working with us?

I’m very pleased with this collaboration and I’d like to thank both institutions for giving me this opportunity. I hope to maintain links with my partners at ISAE-SUPAERO, the Department of Mechanics and Structure of Materials (DMSM) and, more generally, the ICA, in the future to exchange ideas and make the most of this collaboration.

A multi-tutorial collaboration

Christophe Bouvet is a professor at ISAE-SUPAERO. He teaches the mechanics of aeronautical structures and materials, and in particular the dimensioning of composite structures. He is the ISAE-SUPAERO referent and has been working closely with Quentin Bausière for the past 2 years as part of the Virtuose project (VIRTUal testing of aeronautical composiSite structurEs) on the study of composite aeronautical structures under complex loading.

This is the project carried out thanks to Joël Serra’s winning of the Lopez Loreta prize, worth €1m, in 2019. This prize follows on from the ANR VERTEX award obtained in 2013 by Bruno Castanié, following his thesis, defended in 2000, during which he developed a multiaxial testing machine for composite sandwich structures.

This project is being carried out within the Institut Clément Ader, with contributions from the laboratory’s various supervisory bodies.

The main participants in this project are Joël Serra, ISAE-SUPAERO research engineer, Bruno Castanié, INSA Toulouse professor, Christophe Bouvet, ISAE-SUPAERO professor, Jean-Noël Périé UPS research professor, Quentin Bausière, Airbus engineer, Jean-Charles Passieux, INSA Toulouse professor and numerous students and doctoral students. It is therefore an example of the complementarity that a multi-tutored CNRS laboratory like the ICA can provide!

ISAE-SUPAERO expands its collaboration with TU Delft on sustainable aviation

Publication Date

17 April 2023

Category

Research

Tag

Decarbonization

Partnership

Sustainability

The cooperation between the two organisations in terms of the transition of the aerospace sector is fully in line with the priorities of both countries in terms of sustainable mobility.

The agreement will begin with a pilot project focusing on optimising the weight and aerodynamic performance of aircraft, which, alongside traditional safety issues, is a major area of research for sustainable aviation.

Three theses will be launched, focusing on:

New bio-inspired composite materials,
aerostructure design methods that minimise the amount of waste produced,
innovative composite assembly techniques to better anticipate potential failures.

This work will make use of AI, digital twins and additive manufacturing, and will be supported by life-cycle analyses. The three PhD students will be co-supervised by ISAE-SUPAERO and TU Delft, and will work in both Toulouse and Delft.

The agreement also provides for intensified collaboration between the two institutions on European innovation projects. Companies from both countries will be able to participate in the funding of these projects.

This new cooperation agreement was signed by François Alabrune, the French ambassador to the Netherlands, and Eva Voûte (TU Delft), in the presence of Sylvie Retailleau, the French Minister for Higher Education and Research, and Robbert Dijkgraaf, the Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science. At the same time, other agreements were also signed between Dutch organisations and leading French research establishments, such as CEA with TNO, INRIA with CWI, IFREMER with Wageningen University, ENSM with the STC group and a joint declaration between INRAE and Wageningen University.