How is an Airbus built? What is a day in the life of a test pilot like? And how is training for air traffic controllers conducted? Ten students from Hochschule RheinMain – University of Applied Sciences and Arts sought answers to these questions from October 5 to 9, 2026, in Toulouse, the heart of the European aviation industry. The excursion was organized by Prof. Martin Müller, head of the Electrical and Aeronautical Engineering degree program and specialization. The group included students in Electrical and Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering and Management ranging from their 2nd to 8th semesters.
From the Super Guppy to the Beluga
At the airport, a fellow student who grew up in Toulouse welcomed the group in true local style with fresh croissants and “chocolatines,” as “pain au chocolat” is known in the region. From there, the group headed straight to the Aeroscopia Aviation Museum in Blagnac. It opened in 2015 in the immediate vicinity of the hangars where the A380 was once assembled. Spanning approximately 35,000 square meters—distributed across a 7,200-square-meter hangar and three outdoor areas—the museum displays about 40 aircraft: ranging from the Concorde to the Caravelle and the very first Airbus A300B, all the way to the A380, whose production has since been discontinued. It’s particularly impressive to see the Airbus Super Guppy and Beluga ST transport aircraft standing almost side by side here.
Airbus used these two generations of transport aircraft to move wings and fuselage sections between its European plants. The Beluga ST fleet was recently replaced by the larger BelugaXL. As a result, one of the aircraft has been on display at the museum since this summer. It is the first aircraft of its type worldwide to be permanently added to a museum collection.
Drone Hall and Tower Simulator at ENAC
On the second day, the group visited the École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC), France’s national university for civil aviation and an Erasmus partner of Hochschule RheinMain – University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Around 1,800 students from 120 countries receive training here to become engineers, air traffic controllers, or pilots. In addition to its main campus in Toulouse, ENAC operates eight other locations in France and maintains its own fleet of 96 aircraft.
ENAC began by presenting its entirely English-language master’s programs and the corresponding application process. The two-year programs are designed for graduates of bachelor’s degree programs in engineering and the natural sciences. The master’s degree in Aerospace Systems – Navigation and Telecommunications, for example, is closely related to Electrical and Aeronautical Engineering. There are also programs in systems design and operations management in international air transport. For HSRM students, this is an interesting option both for a semester abroad and for pursuing a master’s degree abroad.
The subsequent tour took the group to the “Drone Flight Arena Toulouse Occitanie.” There, microdrones and embedded systems are tested in a 10 × 10 × 10-meter flight chamber. An optical measurement system with 16 cameras tracks the flight paths 200 times per second.
For the ELT students—who learn to pilot drones as early as their first semester and engage in the construction of their own multicopters over the course of their studies—this was a fascinating comparison.
Equally impressive were the tower simulators. In two circular rooms, the external view can be adjusted to 120°, 240°, or a full 360°, allowing aspiring air traffic controllers to direct airfield traffic as if from a real control tower.
For en-route air traffic control—known in technical jargon as the “Center”—there are dedicated radar simulators. Here, students act as “pseudo-pilots,” taking on the role of aircraft crews, while their fellow students guide traffic through the airspace via radio. Two students at a time are supervised by an experienced instructor during training.
Visiting Airbus
The highlight of the trip was the visits to Airbus. During the first appointment, Thomas Wilhelm, test pilot and “Head of Flight Test Operations Toulouse,” took plenty of time for the students and introduced them to his profession and the development work at Airbus. On the premises, the students were able to marvel at the new A350F, the cargo version of the A350, which had taken off on its maiden flight just over a week earlier. In the afternoon, a project manager provided a firsthand account of the project and answered the group’s many questions. The discussion continued in a relaxed atmosphere over dinner together.
On the last day, the group was picked up directly at their accommodations in Toulouse and started the day with a French breakfast on the Airbus campus. This was followed by a very interesting presentation on the history of Airbus, its corporate culture, and current projects. A representative from the Human Resources department explained the various career opportunities available to future graduates.
The group then visited areas normally off-limits to the public: cockpit simulators in the development department, including an “Iron Bird”—a system test bed where an aircraft’s flight controls, hydraulics, and electrical systems are tested in combination while on the ground.
In total, Airbus operates about ten such development simulators in Toulouse for all of its commercial aircraft, ranging from models currently in development to types that have long since been discontinued. Airbus built them itself. Engineers use these simulators to examine new systems and software updates and observe how crews respond to warnings and displays. For certain systems, the aviation authorities EASA and FAA even provide recognition for simulator tests as proof of certification. Only these simulators are admitted to link with the Iron Bird’s actual systems.
Data from the test flights, along with video from the cockpit, was transmitted live to the telemetry center here. The students were able to directly observe the test flight currently underway for the A350F they had toured earlier. It was in the middle of a long flight and was currently over Brittany.
The tour continued to the avionics facility. Here, Airbus develops and manufactures some of the safety-critical onboard electronics in-house: computers for flight control, flight warning systems, communications, and maintenance, which are used in all Airbus models. The next generation of flight control computers is currently being developed here. For the A320 family, Airbus’s proprietary computers will in the future be supplemented by devices from Liebherr-Aerospace in Lindenberg, Allgäu: Hardware built with different architectures (dissimilarity) enhances safety, while the flight control software will continue to be supplied by Airbus. For the ELT students, this provided a particularly direct connection to their studies, which combine Electrical Engineering and aviation. Many were surprised to see how directly the content from their lectures is reflected in practical experience.
Finally, the group visited the A350 final assembly line. All versions of the A350—namely the A350-900, A350-1000, and the new A350F freighter—are exclusively assembled here in Toulouse. The major components come from all over Europe: the wings from Broughton, Wales; the fuselage sections from Hamburg and Saint-Nazaire; and the horizontal stabilizer from Getafe, near Madrid. Step by step, these components come together to form an aircraft: First, the fuselage sections are joined together; then the wings and tail are attached, the landing gear is installed, and the aircraft is powered up for the first time. After that, the roll-out takes place under its own “power.” Steel plates are initially mounted in place of the engines to provide ballast. The reason for this is the high purchase price of the engines, which accounts for up to 30% of the total cost. To reduce the amount of capital tied up, the engines are not installed until shortly before the first flight. Airbus plans to ramp up production to twelve A350s per month by 2028.
Contacts with Potential
“The visits to Airbus, ENAC, and Aeroscopia, in particular, gave me valuable insights and reinforced my desire to work in the aviation industry later on,” says Rabia Ben Tebra, a fourth-semester student of Electrical and Aeronautical Engineering. Several participants also used the discussions to make initial contacts for internships. “The trip gave me a very hands-on look into a field I’ve had little exposure to during my studies. So I’d like to apply for an internship at Airbus next year,” says Janis Wolter, a Mechanical Engineering student in his fifth semester.
In the Footsteps of Saint-Exupéry
There was also time to explore Toulouse. Toulouse is not only the capital of European aviation but also one of France’s most popular college towns: In 2026, it ranked first for the second year in a row in the magazine L’Étudiant’s rankings. The old town, built of pink brick—which gives the “Ville Rose” its nickname—is easy to explore on foot, and in the evenings, people gather at Place Saint-Pierre or along the banks of the Garonne. With its impressive churches, street cafés, markets, and mild evenings well into the fall, the city exudes that typical southern French charm.
Aviation history has always been close at hand: On Place du Capitole, where City Hall stands, is the Hôtel du Grand Balcon. Starting in 1925, pilots from the Aéropostale—who flew the airmail route from Toulouse to West Africa and South America—stayed here, including Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who later wrote *The Little Prince* (*Le petit prince*) and *Night Flight* (*Vol de nuit*). Based on a historical photograph, a statue of Saint-Exupéry now stands once again on the hotel’s balcony. His room, No. 32, has been faithfully restored according to archival photos and is a protected historic site.
The students were housed together in a large apartment in the heart of Toulouse on Place Saint-Pierre. Just like in a large shared apartment, they cooked together in the evenings and laughed a lot during game nights; the atmosphere was excellent all week long. For Manuel Scherf (International Industrial Engineering and Management, 3rd semester), it was precisely the shared living arrangement that helped the group get to know each other better: “This experience will also benefit us as we continue our studies.”
The team received financial support not only from the university but also from a generous private sponsor. The team and the organizer extend their heartfelt thanks to both. Equally heartfelt thanks go to Airbus and ENAC for the exceptional insights and their warm hospitality.
The field trip team will soon invite all students and university staff to an appointment where they will report firsthand on the excursion, its results, and insights, and will be available to answer questions.