At EBACE 2022, Daher Highlights Its Vision For A More Sustainable Future Of Aviation

Geneva, Switzerland, May 22, 2022 – Daher’s research, development & production activities that will contribute to an increasingly sustainable aviation industry were outlined by the company during its media briefing today at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Chief Executive Officer Didier Kayat underscored the benefits of Daher’s family ownership & the company’s 160-year history in developing solutions that respond to aviation’s long-term climate goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“In taking bold steps to decarbonize airplanes, we need to evolve the way we build them – applying innovative materials & rethinking their industrialization – while also decarbonizing the entire process that leads to the aircraft manufacturers’ assembly lines.” DIDIER KAYAT, DAHER’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Among its leading research & development projects is the EcoPulse™ distributed propulsion hybrid aircraft demonstrator, being developed by Daher, Safran & Airbus with the support of France’s CORAC civil aviation research council. Its purpose is to develop the key architectural
principles for future hybrid airplanes. This demonstrator utilizes Daher’s TBM 900-series turboprop aircraft as the baseline airframe with minimal systems equipment & with its standard propulsion system being augmented by six wing-mounted propellers, each of which are driven by 50-kW electric motors.

The EcoPulse™ demonstrator has been powered up at the Tarbes, France facility of Daher’s Aircraft Division in preparation for the initiation of flight evaluations this year.

In addition to Daher’s role as the aircraft integrator for EcoPulse™, the company’s responsibilities include flight/airworthiness testing & overall analysis coordination of the test results. Airbus is in charge of developing the high-energy-density 350 kW/350 kg main battery system for EcoPulse™, along with aerodynamic & acoustic integration of the distributed-propulsion system, as well as development of a flight control computer. Safran supplies the electric motors & oversees the distributed hybrid-propulsion system’s integration.

Kayat said another bold step in Daher’s research & development strategy was the company’s decision to create three new innovation centres – called Techcenters – that cover each of its core businesses: aircraft manufacturing, aerospace equipment & logistics.

The Aerostructures Techcenter in Nantes, France will accelerate Daher’s innovation in composite structural components while reducing their technological maturity lead time. The Aircraft Techcenter at Tarbes is dedicated to the development of the company’s aircraft manufacturing
core business, & includes materials laboratories, rapid prototyping workshops, & facilities for mechanical engineering testing, systems integration, along with flight test preparation & operation.

“These innovation centres represented a bold decision by Daher, as we launched them while the aviation sector was still facing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kayat added. “They reflect our ambition & commitment to develop increasingly innovative & environmentally responsible solutions, which can further be introduced on Daher’s aircraft roadmap.”