Geneva, Switzerland, May 22, 2022 – Daher’s research, development and 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 and
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 and 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 and development projects is the EcoPulse™ distributed propulsion
hybrid aircraft demonstrator, being developed by Daher, Safran and 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 and 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 and 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 and acoustic integration of the distributed-propulsion
system, as well as development of a flight control computer. Safran supplies the electric motors
and oversees the distributed hybrid-propulsion system’s integration.
Kayat said another bold step in Daher’s research and development strategy was the company’s
decision to create three new innovation centers – called Techcenters – that cover each of its core
businesses: aircraft manufacturing, aerospace equipment and 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, and includes materials laboratories, rapid prototyping workshops, and facilities
for mechanical engineering testing, systems integration, along with flight test preparation and
operation.
“These innovation centers 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 and commitment to develop increasingly innovative and environmentally
responsible solutions, which can further be introduced on Daher’s aircraft roadmap.”
Daher is present this week at EBACE (European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition)
Geneva’s Palexpo convention center, (Booth W35, Hall 6).
