B22: expanding aircraft maintenance and conversion capacity in Toulouse-Blagnac
Conversion capability – from civil aircraft to firefighting
A key role for the new hangar will be to support programmes to convert civil aircraft into firefighting aircraft. As climate change increases the risk of forest fires, Aerotec & Concept and its parent company Expleo are drawing on their expertise to develop new aerial capabilities that help protect populations and forests.
At the official opening, a Kepplair Evolution ATR72, which is being converted into a firefighting aircraft and whose first test flights are scheduled for January 2027, was on display in the hangar. For Aerotec & Concept, the conversion draws on expertise in designing and manufacturing specialist components and integrating them into the aircraft. This project illustrates the potential of the aeronautics industry to adapt existing aircraft for new public-service roles.
Johan Clochet, Managing Director of Aerotec & Concept, a subsidiary of Expleo, said: ” With the B22 hangar, we are strengthening our presence and expanding our capabilities in Occitanie and the Toulouse area to expand our range of services for the design, conversion and integration of aircraft modifications. Alongside this investment, we plan to recruit 30 to 50 people across our design and technical teams. We can already see what this investment will make possible: we are converting the first aircraft into a firefighting aircraft here, with its first test flights scheduled to start in January 2027. Contributing to the protection of our forests gives our teams a clear sense of purpose.”
Damien Lasou, Managing Director of Expleo France, added: “Converting an aircraft is always a challenge because it involves designing complex modifications, implementing them, validating them in flight and certifying them. That work draws on the skills and expertise of our engineers and technicians every day. By developing our presence in the Toulouse-Blagnac airport area, we can combine technical expertise and industrial capacity to deliver a public benefit, particularly through the firefighting aircraft that will be converted in the new B22 hangar.”
