Your contact : Laurence Soldermann
l.soldermann@provence-promotion.fr

Provence: Broad expertise in aeronautics and aerospace engineering

The aeronautics adventure in Provence started on March 28, 1910 with the first flight of a seaplane piloted by Henri FABRE, one of the many pioneers of this exciting industry.
Since then, progress has continued with the construction of seaplanes, monoplanes, fighters, autogiros and helicopters.
Today, the adventure continues with state of the art technologies such as mecatronics, optronics, materials, onboard equipment, simulation, tests, training, and research.

The aeronautical and aerospace industries are concentrated close to the Marseille-Provence airport, the Istres Air base and Salon de Provence, and supply three main customers (Eurocopter, Dassault Aviation and Alcatel Space).

They involve:
§          France’s #1 helicopter manufacturer
§          France’s largest/most active In-Flight Testing Center (8 space and flight test centers in Provence).
§          A large Network of subcontractors and suppliers
§          The 2nd largest concentration of R&D in France with 10,000 researchers
§          3 universities and 12 engineering schools, 90,000 students,
§          Several labs and engineering schools dedicated to Aerospace technologies.

The industry represents:
§          5,5 billion euros  in sales
§          8 major clients including Eurocopter, Dassault Aviation, and Thales Alenia Space
§          ~250 SMEs and 35,000 jobs
§          Largest industrial sector in the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region.

A “competitiveness cluster”: Pegase

Pegase is the organisation which co-ordinates, selects and finances collaborative research projects within the cluster, which consists of the members of the regional network.  It oversees the cluster’s external communications, particularly its international communications, and directs collaborative efforts with other French and foreign clusters.

7 key technologies
§          Dirigibles and balloons
§          Drones
§          Light green aviation
§          Spatial systems
§          New Helicopter segments
§          New concepts (ex wingboats)

Eurocopter: A world leader

The Eurocopter Group is a subsidiary of EADS. The Eurocopter Group's Marignane plant is the site of the company's head office. It employs 7,000 persons and generates ~35 000 indirect jobs.

Thanks to exceptional expertise in several fields (Mecatronics, composite materials, electrical systems, etc.); more than 300 helicopters are produced every year by Eurocopter.

Eurocopter is the largest industrial plant in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region and works with more than 800 regional companies, generating economic benefits on the order of 3 billion euros?. It also devotes significant resources to R&D.

Eurocopter has worked in cooperation with THALES to create a pilot training center using simulators (HELISIM). This center accommodates almost 1,000 pilots per year.

www.eurocopter.com

A developing network of subcontractors

The presence of EUROCOPTER and the Istres Flight Test Center have been the reasons for the settlement and growth of many subcontractors and suppliers in sectors such as :
- Precision mechanics,
- Electrical systems and wiring,
- Computer engineering and electronics,
- Onboard and automated systems,
- Test equipment? and tooling,
- Propulsion systems,
- Composite materials,
- Hydraulic systems,
- Surface treatment,
- Metrology.
www.udimetalprovence.fr

 
One of the largest flight test centers in Europe

The Istres Air Base is one of the largest flight test centers in Europe. More than 5,000 people are employed in the area.

It is close to the sea, covering 5400 acres, enjoys 300 days of sunshine per year, and has ideal conditions for preparing and carrying out flight tests. Its 3 mile-long track is the longest in Europe and can be used by the American space shuttle in the case of an emergency landing.

- The Flight Test Center (CEV) : The Istres CEV was built in 1950 and is the leading flight test center in France. Its missions include flight tests of civil and military prototypes, approval by equivalence of foreign aircrafts, development and integration of airborne weapons, equipment and onboard systems, and training of test and acceptance crews (EPNER).

- Dassault Aviation : In Istres, Dassault Aviation employs a highly skilled staff of 750, , with  500,000 ft2 of offices, employs 250 local suppliers and performs approximately one hundred test flights every month. Flight test missions carried out by Dassault Aviation include development and certification of aircraft, aircraft systems and the associated support, preparation of aircraft for flight after leaving the production line, and participation in aircraft/system design. Other companies including Snecma Moteurs and Thales equipment manufacturers carry out tests on engine and propulsion systems at the Istres site.

www.dassault-aviation.fr
www.snecma-moteurs.com
www.thalesgroup.com

A complete set of training courses

The Aix-Marseille Academy provides training for various certifications ranging from the CAP (Professional Certificate of Aptitude) to an Engineering degree and provides a wide range of training courses for different aeronautical applications.

CAP to BTS (Higher Technician's Certificate for 20 years old) certifications include specialized training in mechanics, electricity and electronics, and also more specialized courses such as air frame mechanics and aeronautical maintenance.

Engineering schools offer specialized training in mechanical, electronic, optoelectronic systems and materials. They develop partnerships to propose multidisciplinary courses in order to produce engineers capable of integrating different technologies within the same system.

They train a pool of highly qualified engineers and research teams capable of carrying out R&D projects for companies.

The Air School: The Salon-de-Provence Air Base has been the Air School's base since 1937. The mission of the Air School is to train officers who will occupy senior positions in the Air Force. The Air School engineer diploma is issued at the end of the training course.
www.aea.asso.fr

The EPNER (School for Test and Acceptance Flight Crews): The EPNER in Istres is one of the four schools in the Western world with an international reputation for training flight test specialists.

A major research and development center

The 2nd largest concentration of research in France is in the Bouches-du-Rhone department, employing more than 10,000 research staff. There are many important laboratories in the department performing activities in aeronautical applications, for example the :

- ONERA : pilot-system and human factor interactions, generic simulation of infrared cameras, etc.,
- CLAIRE : laser cutting,
- MECASURF : mechanics of surfaces/materials, surface treatment,
- ESIM laboratories : mecatronics, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and advanced materials, etc.,
- CETEGELEC : electrical and electronic engineering,
- CCRM : electromagnetic compatibility,
- UNIMECA laboratories : mechanics of fluids, mechanics of solids, materials,
- LMA : mechanics and acoustics,
- CP2M : signal and image, optoelectronics, etc.,
- CARMA : advanced materials.

The CNRA Sud-Est, Europe's fourth largest air traffic control center is located in Aix-en-Provence. It covers the South-East part of France and large parts of the Mediterranean. The Center employs 650 persons, including 470 air traffic control engineers.

The Salon-de-Provence Air Base has been the base used by the Air School Patrol (renamed the Patrouille de France in 1964) since 1937. The Patrouille de France represents French aeronautics throughout the world.
www.defense.gouv.fr/air/dossiers/indexpaf.html

The Marignane Civil Security Air Base participates in protecting Mediterranean forests against forest fires with a fleet composed mainly of Canadairs and Trackers and a work force of 150 experienced persons including 90 pilots.
www.215t415.com