Thales, a global leader in aerospace technology, and the École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC), France’s premier civil aviation university, have officially entered into a strategic partnership. Formalized at the Airspace World event in Lisbon, this collaboration seeks to redefine the landscape of air traffic management through joint innovation and education.
The partnership focuses on two primary pillars: research and development (R&D) and professional training. By integrating Thales’ extensive experience in air traffic control systems, cybersecurity, and embedded technologies with ENAC’s academic rigor in regulation and research, the two entities intend to accelerate the deployment of smart, sustainable solutions. A central goal of this technological push is to support a more sustainable airspace, with the specific target of reducing CO2 emissions within the aviation sector by roughly 10%.
The research efforts will heavily prioritize the implementation of artificial intelligence to enhance the safety and efficiency of air traffic management. By developing next-generation systems, the partnership aims to optimize flight trajectories and traffic flows, ultimately helping airlines minimize fuel consumption. This initiative is designed to be an open ecosystem, inviting participation from startups, laboratories, and other aerospace institutions to foster a collaborative environment for future aviation technologies.
Beyond air traffic management technology, the collaboration addresses the shifting requirements of the aeronautics industry. As aviation technology evolves, the roles within air traffic control are undergoing significant changes. To ensure the workforce is prepared, Thales and ENAC will align their training programs to better reflect modern operational needs.
“With Thales, a unique ecosystem is being created where academic research meets real-world expertise. Students and researchers will benefit from an inspiring environment to prepare and imagine the aviation industry of 2050,” said Olivier Chansou, ENAC Director.
The partnership is expected to encourage a more collaborative and open aerospace ecosystem by creating opportunities for new participants, including start-ups, research laboratories and institutions, to engage in and support focused projects.
“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,” said Youzec Kurp, Vice-President, Airspace Mobility Solutions, Thales.
