The large-scale French research programs Inca, Maia, Iroqua and Poca, initiated by Safran, foster a multidisciplinary approach.
The combustor for Snecma’s M88 fighter engine
© Snecma
These programs reflect a long tradition of collaboration between industry and public research organizations in France, in particular CNRS and Onera (the national scientific and aerospace research agencies, respectively).
They support the networking of resources to tackle complex issues that will help reduce aviation’s environmental impact, while improving performance.
Inca (Advanced Combustion Initiative):
launched in 2002, Inca brings together 15 laboratories working on three types of propulsion.
- Airplane and helicopter engines, to achieve clean combustion at competitive cost.
- Rocket engines for the Ariane launcher, to improve performance and better control combustion at the edges of the envelope.
- Solid propulsion, primarily for missiles.
Maia (Advanced Mechanical Engineering Methods): 50 laboratories are participating in a network dedicated to structural design methods. Objectives include more accurate forecasts of structure lifespans, and optimizing the resulting maintenance cycle.
Iroqua (Aircraft Noise Reduction Initiative): Created in 2005 by Safran, Airbus, Eurocopter, Dassault Aviation, CNRS and ONERA, in conjunction with 30 laboratories, the Iroqua network started with five projects dedicated to aeronautic noise reduction.
The Iroqua program has been renewed for a further five years, on Novembre 23rd, 2010. To coincide with this extension, Air France and Aéroports de Paris have joined it. Its objective is to reduce by half the perceived noise around airports by 2020.
Poca (Power Optimized Component and Architecture): The latest program in this series, bringing together 17 labs. In particular, it aims to optimize the generation, distribution and utilization of onboard power, taking into account engines, electrical and pneumatic systems.
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