INTERVIEW: Ascendance’s Thibault Baldivia on Hybrid-Electric Momentum Ahead of Flying ATEA’s First Full-Scale Prototype In 2026

Finally week’s Dubai Airshow, eVTOL Insights Managing editor Jason Pritchard overtook Thibault Baldivia, Principal Commercial Police Officer and Founder at Ascendance.

The Toulouse-based business is advancing towards the initial trip of its hybrid-electric ATEA VTOL airplane and increasing its innovation impact throughout aeronautics sectors.

Thibault shared the most up to date updates on the airplane’s advancement, upcoming turning points and why the Center East is coming to be a progressively vital area for next-generation aeronautics.

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Jason Pritchard: ” Thibault, excellent to talk with you once again right here in Dubai. A whole lot has actually occurred considering that you joined us in Munich for our Europe Seminar. What’s been taking place at Ascendance?”

Thibault Baldivia: ” Given that we last talked, points have actually increased dramatically. We’re deep right into advancement of our 2 core items: the ATEA airplane, which is our hybrid-electric VTOL enhance to helicopters, and our standalone hybrid-electric propulsion system.

” On the airplane side, we’re currently putting together the initial full-blown model. The group has actually lately finished significant architectural combination job– the components have actually been bound with each other, the airplane is materializing, and it’s exceptionally gratifying for the designers that have actually spent many hours right into this vision.

” In parallel, every one of the ‘red tag’ flight-ready parts are undertaking screening on our benches. We’ll start incorporating them right into the airplane quickly. So of course, it’s a really interesting time and we’re still targeting an initial trip in the coming months.

JP: That’s a significant turning point. What does the roadmap appear like as you approach 2026?

TB: ” We’re getting in the stage where screening relocates from the bench right into the incorporated airplane. It’s a vital action– making certain every system meshes and executes as anticipated when put together.

” At the very same time, we’re reinforcing partnerships with regulatory authorities and ecological authorities as we get ready for trip screening. After that, naturally, our examination pilots will certainly take the airplane right into the air. From there, the complete flight-test project unravels.”

JP: Will every one of that occur at your Toulouse centers?

TB: ” Yes. We have 2 websites in the Toulouse location: our major center, which rests on a historical landing field, and our devoted flight-test centre concerning 20 mins southern of the city. The whole trip examination advocate ATEA will certainly be based there.”

JP: We’re currently seeing even more trip examinations throughout the market, with the similarity Archer, Volocopter, Joby, BETA, Electra and others. What does this minute suggest for hybrid-electric aeronautics and public fostering?

TB: ” Recording these turning points is vital– not simply the trips themselves, however the trip behind them. And past that, the market is plainly moving towards hybrid-electric remedies. Over the previous year particularly, we have actually really felt expanding acknowledgment that hybrid-electric is the practical path for variety, procedures and client requirements.

” So of course, we will certainly be signing up with the ‘trip examination family members’ quickly, however we additionally see ourselves playing a significant function in the following phase– globalising hybrid-electric aeronautics and showing its capacity.”

JP: Past the airplane, what else are you servicing that our visitors should recognize?

TB: ” We lately had significant energy on the propulsion side. In September, Ascendance was chosen by Clean Air travel to establish our crossbreed battery pack– what we call the Crossbreed Load— for future local hybrid-electric airplane. We’re the only commercial consortium granted this certain give, and we’re teaming up with companions such as Jet, ATR and Daher.

” We’re progressing added campaigns around hybridisation that we can not completely divulge yet however are extremely encouraging.”

JP: Transforming to where we are today, what possibilities does this occasion produce for Ascendance in the center East?

TB: ” The area has an introducing spirit when it concerns innovation. There’s a real wish to be at the reducing side of development, which straightens flawlessly with what we’re creating.

” Every person discuss electrical air taxis in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, however the location right here is additionally perfect for local hybrid-electric airplane. Courses like Abu Dhabi to Al Ain or links in between Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects need the variety and functional adaptability that hybrid-electric airplane provide.

” We have actually additionally seen solid rate of interest in hybrid-electric propulsion itself. Federal governments and drivers right here desire not just the most recent principles however additionally the future generation of aeronautics’s underlying modern technologies. I truly think component of aeronautics’s following phase will certainly be composed in this area.”

JP: Exists anything else you want to include concerning Ascendance’s trip?

TB: ” We go to an essential factor not just for innovative air wheelchair, but also for local wheelchair and also support applications. Hybrid-electric systems make it possible for quieter, longer-range procedures for UAVs and we’re seeing energy throughout all these industries.

” After years of job, it’s pleasing to see hybrid-electric innovation identified as a crucial enabler for the future of aeronautics. And we’re happy to be at the leading edge of it.”

JP: Thibault, thanks and finest of good luck with the trip examination project. We expect the following upgrade.

TB: ” Thanks. And do not stress– you’ll be welcomed!”

The blog post INTERVIEW: Ascendance’s Thibault Baldivia on Hybrid-Electric Momentum Ahead of Flying ATEA’s First Full-Scale Prototype In 2026 showed up initially on eVTOL Insights.

The blog post INTERVIEW: Ascendance’s Thibault Baldivia on Hybrid-Electric Momentum Ahead of Flying ATEA’s First Full-Scale Prototype In 2026 showed up initially on eVTOL Insights.