Thales, ENAC partner to develop AI-driven air traffic management and aviation training

Lisbon, May 28. Thales and Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC), France’s leading civil aviation university, have entered into a strategic partnership to advance next-generation air traffic management technologies and strengthen aviation training programmes for the future aerospace workforce.

The agreement, signed on May 27 during the Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon, will initially run for three years and focus on research, innovation and specialised training in the aviation sector.

The partnership aims to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence-based solutions for safer, smarter and more sustainable air traffic management (ATM). By combining Thales’ expertise in air traffic control systems, cybersecurity and embedded technologies with ENAC’s strengths in academic research, regulation and talent development, the two organisations plan to jointly develop and validate advanced ATM concepts.

Among the key projects under the collaboration are AI-enabled airspace optimisation tools to help airlines improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, along with next-generation air traffic control systems designed to enhance flight safety and improve traffic flow. The partners said such technologies could contribute to reducing aviation-related carbon emissions by around 10 percent.

The initiative will also expand educational programmes in aeronautical engineering and air traffic management to address the evolving needs of the aviation industry. The two institutions plan to create stronger links between academic learning and industry requirements through career pathways spanning initial training, doctoral studies and research opportunities.

ENAC, which trains engineers, pilots and air traffic controllers, said the partnership would help modernise educational offerings in response to rapid technological changes in the aviation ecosystem.

The collaboration will also support international outreach efforts. One example cited by the partners is Mongolia, where Thales’s ATM systems are already being used alongside ENAC-led training programmes.

The agreement additionally seeks to encourage greater participation of women in aviation and attract new talent to the sector. The partners said the initiative could eventually evolve into a broader collaborative ecosystem involving startups, research laboratories and academic institutions.

Commenting on the partnership, Olivier Chansou, Director of ENAC, said the collaboration would create an environment where academic research and industry expertise come together to prepare the aviation sector for the future.

Youzec Kurp, Vice-President of Airspace Mobility Solutions at Thales, described the agreement as an important part of Thales’s open innovation strategy aimed at advancing critical technologies for the aviation industry while helping train future air traffic management professionals.