Inauguration of Turbolab

Bayonne, 25 October - Today marks the inauguration of Turbolab, a shared test bed to support projects and companies in their response to the carbon impact of the aeronautical sector.

Initiated as part of the ‘Territoire d'Industrie Pays Basque’ programme, this project is a new technology transfer tool that is helping to create a complete ecosystem around innovative propulsion systems. 

The project brings together a test bed for services, a support area for research and development and higher education facilities. The aim of the support space is to create a world-class test centre on the Technocité site, as well as setting up a research chair. At this stage, it has already led to the creation of a joint laboratory (ANR LabCom).

Turbolab is the result of a genuine collaboration between :

➡️ Akira Technologies, which is making available its test and measurement equipment, as well as its ‘test vehicle’ engines

➡️ Compositadour, which has set up a laboratory for aerospace manufacturers to test and characterise all types of aircraft propulsion systems

➡️ ESTIA - École Supérieure des Technologies Industrielles Avancées which develops training modules

➡️ Communauté Pays Basque which built the building to house these various activities on the Technocité technology park in Bayonne

➡️Directorate General for Civil Aviation , l'ANR (Agence nationale de la recherche), Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region for supporting and funding this project.

To celebrate this important day, a demonstration of the test bench was carried out, accompanied by technical exchanges:

• Future of Rotorcraft Propulsion by Pascal Dauriac from Safran Helicopter Engines
• Hybridization of propulsion systems at Safran Aircraft Engines by Isabelle Bourriaud
• Low-carbon aviation and the impact on turbomachinery, by Nicolas Binder from ISAE-SUPAERO
• Collaboration between SMEs and major groups on decarbonising aeronautics, by Thomas Quirante from Akira Technologies