Thales and ENAC (École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile), the French Civil Aviation University, have formed a strategic partnership that aims to shape the future of air transport.
The partnership focuses on accelerating innovation and the deployment of AI-based solutions for safer, smarter, and more sustainable air traffic management, as well as expanding the training offering in aeronautical engineering and air traffic management (ATM), in order to support the evolution of air traffic controller professions and meet the recruitment needs of a changing aeronautics industry.
Youzec Kurp, Vice-President, Airspace Mobility Solutions at Thales, said: “This partnership with ENAC is key to our open innovation strategy. Together, we will accelerate progress in critical technologies for safer, smarter, and more sustainable aviation, while training talent to acquire the skills needed to manage today’s and tomorrow’s complex and dynamic ATM ecosystem.”
Key initiatives include AI-based air traffic management and airspace optimisation solutions designed to help airlines optimise fuel consumption, as well as the development of next-generation ATC systems to enhance flight safety, optimise air traffic flow, and improve flight trajectories, with the aim of reducing aviation-related CO₂ emissions by around 10%.
New opportunities to enrich career pathways will also be created from initial training through doctoral studies and research positions, ensuring a better alignment between academic education and the evolving needs of the aerospace industry.
Increasing the presence of women in aviation and making the sector even more attractive to the talent of tomorrow are also key aims of the partnership.
Olivier Chansou, ENAC Director, said: “With Thales, we are creating a unique ecosystem where academic research meets real-world expertise. Our students and researchers will benefit from an inspiring environment to prepare and imagine the aviation industry of 2050.”
