A major congress organized in Toulouse on carbon-free light aviation
The Aerospace Valley competitiveness cluster is organizing two professional days in Toulouse devoted to carbon-free light aviation. Objectives: unite players in the sector and discuss the next technological breakthroughs. 300 professionals are expected.
The carbon-free light aviation sector is booming. The Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions are in fact responsible for more and more emerging players whose objective is to participate in the decarbonization of the sector. It is from this observation that the MAELE initiative (Light and Environmentally Responsible Air Mobility) was born at the end of 2020, led by Aerospace Valley. As explained by Bruno Dahan, Aeronautics Deputy Director within the competitiveness cluster, “there are 300,000 aircraft in service today in the world and their average age is 40 years. There is therefore an absolute need to replace them and a desire to green this environment with new technologies. »
During the Green & Carbon-Free Light Air Mobility week at the Cité in Toulouse last September
![Green & Carbon-Free Light Air Mobility Week in Toulouse last September](https://images.ladepeche.fr/api/v1/images/view/637cc3bf3027e7122165ac9e/full/image.jpg?v=1)
Green & Carbon-Free Light Air Mobility Week in Toulouse last September
After several events organized in Bordeaux, Jonzac and Toulouse to meet future challenges, Aerospace Valley is organizing two new days dedicated to Light, Green & Carbon-Free Air Mobility in the pink city on the sidelines of the Aeromart business convention. They will be held on November 29 and 30 at the MEETT in Toulouse. More than 300 professionals and project leaders working today to build the aircraft of tomorrow are expected. Many Toulouse start-ups will take part in the event, such as Aura Aero, Ascendance Flight Technologies, Blue Spirit Aero and Beyond Aero.
![The Atea vertical take-off and landing aircraft project](https://images.ladepeche.fr/api/v1/images/view/637e43e4c4b54946112826ab/full/image.jpg?v=1)
The Atea vertical take-off and landing aircraft project
![Blue Spirit Aero is developing Dragonfly, an aircraft that incorporates twelve hydrogen-electric powertrains](https://images.ladepeche.fr/api/v1/images/view/637cc537d7f6b848b6690e3e/full/image.jpg?v=1)
Blue Spirit Aero is developing Dragonfly, an aircraft that incorporates twelve hydrogen-electric powertrains
Taking the form of round tables, expert presentations, B2B meetings and workshops, the event aims to unite players in the sector and reflect on issues and possible solutions. Energy sources (electric batteries, hybrid engine, hydrogen, etc.), the adaptation of airfields, or even investment needs will be the main topics on the program for these days.
Imagine the aerodromes of tomorrow as energy hubs
To become greener, light aviation must indeed find answers to a multitude of questions. The sector must, for example, reflect on the design of tanks capable of storing hydrogen in a gaseous state, compressed to 700 bars; or in the liquid state, maintained at a temperature of -253°. He must also accentuate his research on hybrid engines and find how to increase the performance of batteries, which are currently limited to 200 watts per kilo. He must finally imagine the aerodromes of tomorrow so that they become real energy hubs and refuel planes as well as buses or cars in metropolitan areas. The list is of course not exhaustive and each player, whether aircraft manufacturer, equipment manufacturer, expert, school, laboratory or investor, has a role to play.
Since November 2020, MAELE in partnership with the Occitanie Region and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region has made it possible to release 17 million euros in aid to support around twenty projects around the green aircraft. As part of these projects, several key technologies are being developed and will be integrated into electric-powered aircraft with the aim of serving the leisure market, pilot training and also new uses. In the coming months, new projects will also benefit from the financial support of the two Regions.