The Air Force School focuses on research and innovation

By Clément Rocher, published on July 30, 2020 5 min

Remote piloting of drones, use of virtual reality... research and innovation represent two major challenges for the Air Force School, which trains future Air Force officers. This tactical approach provides the establishment with state-of-the-art training tools.

The Air Force School, located in Salon-de-Provence (13), wished to highlight the "research and innovation" dimension of the establishment during a visit by the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parley. The representative of the government went to the campus on July 24 to preside over the ceremony of the assumption of command of the air base and the school by the air brigadier general Dominique Arbiol.

The Air School, which became a public scientific, cultural and professional establishment (EPSCP) last year, has truly entered a phase of modernization. This great French military school has developed its research and innovation activities but wanted to modernize its training while maintaining a technological lead.

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Cifed, the Center for Initiation and Training of Drone Crews

Do you know drones? These remotely piloted aircraft occupy an increasingly important place within the armed forces of our country: they use their skills in the control of drones for intelligence missions but also to help maintain public order. . The know-how of the Air Force is recognized in particular by the Center for Initiation and Training of Drone Crews (CIFED). The training center is located at Air Base 701.

This growing unit has taken advantage of the rise of this new technology to develop its expertise in the field. It works primarily for the Air Force, but has recently established interministerial partnerships to set up theoretical and practical training for security forces such as national police officers, gendarmes and, soon, customs.

This center of excellence offers training in light and heavy drones, in particular to become an image sensor operator and remote pilot. Two weeks of practical training allow trainees to acquire essential skills for mastering drones but also "to have maximum preparation to guarantee flights without an accident situation", explains Karim, one of the instructors of this unit. .

This technical and dense training represents a pedagogical challenge according to the instructor, but the results so far have been very encouraging. "They will discover the fundamentals of air safety but also the fundamentals of operational use. They can push their limits with training. We also know that we are faced with technologies that are evolving very quickly but we try to keep on the page", continues the instructor.

The practical internship mobilizes many capacities in the students. "You have to be able to prepare your mission well and know how to manage the unexpected. The trainees will have to quickly capture relevant information in the image." A simulation device allows you to test your dexterity in drone piloting because it is important to master your ability to position yourself in space.

Virtual reality for apprentice pilots

Higher education institutions specializing in aeronautics are increasingly resorting to the use of virtual reality for learning to fly. This new technology has become in a few years an educational tool par excellence and is particularly effective in putting apprentice pilots of the Air Force School in conditions similar to reality.

Indeed, the aeronautical and military training of the Air Force School requires students to practice several hours on a flight simulator before taking control of an authentic flight device. This learning phase allows students equipped with virtual reality headsets to acquire essential notions of military piloting and to familiarize themselves with flight procedures.

The Euroglider project: an environmental challenge

The energy transition is gradually being implemented in the aeronautics sector. Several technical and design innovations are at the center of a project called Euroglider: a two-seater training and training glider, autonomous, with electric propulsion. This innovative project is notably supported by the ISAE group of which the École de l'air is a member. The teacher-researchers and students participated in the development of the aircraft's aerodynamics.

This new glider model must meet the needs of instructors and student pilots. In particular, the Euroglider makes it possible to partly free oneself from the climatic constraints inherent in flight: initial training is made possible all day and all year round. The first flight tests took place at the Air School in September 2019.