24 hours inside French aerospace with the MAA

learn what international aerospace customers really want

promote your company internationally

see how technology centres can give you new capabilities

future-proof your company with cutting-edge skills

Who will you meet?

Join Dr Andrew Mair, Chief Executive of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, on this exciting business visit to one of France's important, but lesser known, aerospace regions -- Normandy. 

This event will get you right into the heart of French aerospace.and introduce you to three global customers and aerospace technology research and development centres as well as let you meet TransNetAero* participating companies from Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK.

During the trip we will visit and meet:

• SNECMA (SAFRAN group) -  space propulsion (launchers and satellites) - liquid propellant engines launchers and plasma engines for satellites. meet the Purchasing Manager and learn about the SAFRAN group supply chain
• THALES AIR SYSTEMS - radar systems for civilian and military markets: learn - from the Technology Innovation Director - about the future technologies THALES is looking for
• IRSEEM – Research Institute for Embedded Systems -- coordinates all the technology work around embedded systems for aerospace and automotive industries: learn - from the Technology Transfer Manager - how to collaborate on new technology projects. See test benches installed by Aircelle (SAFRAN group) within the premises to test their nacelles.

Why are these events so good?

• For more about the excellent TransNetAero event in the Midlands, click here.

Who is this event for?

This event is for European aerospace suppliers that want to:

1. learn the latest supplier requirements from major aerospace customers across Europe 
2. participate in a European networking event to promote their company
3. learn how research centres across Europe can help them adopt new product and process technologies
4. find out how to access cutting edge training in new technologies for their employees through a new programme to enhance the skills of small aerospace companies
5. meet and network with companies like theirs from across Europe
6. learn cutting-edge developments around PLM (Product LifeCycle Management) and the BENEFITS project for small companies

Detailed agenda

Thursday 28th November

• Morning: travel to Rouen in Normandy. Here is how to get there (this is what Andrew Mair would do but he has to travel on the Wednesday):
  • take the 06:25 Flybe flight (sorry! -- there is a 09:20 but it's cutting it tight) from Birmingham Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport, arriving 09:05
  • take train (one change, Gare du Nord) or taxi to the station Gare St Lazare in central Paris
  • take the 10:51 express train (there are other trains) direct to Rouen -- just over an hour; the train schedule is here
  • we'll make sure you can get to the venue easily . .. 
• Afternoon: meet Thales, Aircelle, learn about new technologies. 
  • Invited by the ESIGELEC/IRSEEM laboratory and hosted in the premises of their CISE centre (Embedded Systems Integration Campus) avenue Galilée, 76800 St Etienne du Rouvray 
  • 2.15 to 2.30: welcome, Dr Xavier Savatier, head of ESIGELEC/IRSEEM IT research team, and Ms Chantal Hurard, head of collaborative programmes at CESI
  • 2.30 to 3 pm: presentation of the Normandy cluster by its president, Mr Philippe Eudeline, also THALES Technology Innovation director, and presentation of the outputs of the AUDACE project, reliability for electrical systems, dedicated to automotive and aerospace industries
  • 3 to 4 pm: presentation and visit of the Research Institute for Embedded Systems – http://esigelec.fr/en/IRSEEM - included AIRCELLE test benches with Mr Alain Nourisson 
  • Coffee break 
  • 4.30 to 5.30 pm: workshop around PLM (Product Life Cycle Management) and the BENEFITS project, with Mr Clive Simmonds, BAE Systems, Pr James Gao and Dr Richard Evans, University of Greenwich and Pr David Baudry, CESI 
  • 5.30: transfer to city centre and hotels -- we recommend L'Hotel du Vieux Marché -- Andrew Mair is staying here.
• Evening: network along with Andrew . . .
  • 7 pm: business-to-business networking reception and supper – local French companies invited.

Friday 29th November

• Morning: meet Snecma, B2B meetings with French companies, learn about TransNetAero:  
  • transfer to morning location: Upper Normandy Regional Council, 5 rue Robert Schuman 76000 Rouen
  • 8.30 am: coffee and welcome, Ms Christine Dispa, CESI north west Managing Director 
  • 8.45 to 9 am: CESI and TNA presentations 
  • 9 to 9.30 am: 5 mn pitch of each TNA partner cluster (5 slides max) 
  • 9.30 to 9.50 am: Mr Jean-Luc Gehere, VP Business & Performance, head of purchasing department SNECMA Vernon, presentation of the SNECMA (SAFRAN group) supply chain – needs and purchasing strategy 
  • 9.50: launch of the B2B meetings (15 mn meeting + 5 mn ‘transfer’) 
  • Coffee break 
  • 12.30 pm: Networking lunch – B2B meetings to continue
• Afternoon: travel back to UK via Paris. We recommend the 18:45 Flybe return flight -- Andrew Mair is booked onto this flight 

How to reserve your place at this free event

• Midlands Aerospace Alliance members should register with the MAA's French partner organisation CESI here.
• You only have to pay your travel costs.
• For more information from the MAA or to ask questions about the event call Anne Esterson on 02476 430 250.

* What is TransNetAero?

TransNetAero (Transnational Network for Aerospace) is a network of organisations in six European aerospace regions and small countries which are going to work together and share their resources so that aerospace industry suppliers in each of them can get expert support and knowledge from the others to help them be better prepared to succeed against global scale competition. The participants are Wallonia (Belgium), Normandy (France), Baden-Württemberg (Germany), the Netherlands, Switzerland and the Midlands (United Kingdom). Future events will be held in the other regions during 2013-15, -- focusing on different major customers and technology centres. For more about the TransNetAero project, click here.