Exactly ten years ago, in October 2016, the first students began their training within the newly constructed buildings of the Polyaéro center. These 2,544 square meters of classrooms, offices, workshops, and hangars were established on the Gap-Tallard airfield, replacing the former facilities of the French Army's light aviation helicopter squadron (Alat).
This project, supported by all political and economic stakeholders in the Hautes-Alpes, aimed to create a center of excellence for aeronautical apprenticeship training, catering to the needs of local 'Air' sector companies, a key economic driver for the region.
The construction project was managed by the Département, which now owns the buildings. Management is entrusted to Formasup Méditerranée, the CFA for public universities and schools in the Région Sud.
Initially offering a single program, Polyaéro now provides four. Three are delivered by the IUT of Aix-Marseille University (professional license in aeronautical industry professions, BUT in mechanical engineering and production, master's in aeronautical project management and digital) and one by the GRETA-CFA Alpes Provence (BTS aeronautics).
Each year, about a hundred young people are trained in aeronautical trades. Training in future technologies is also offered to job seekers looking to retrain or upskill in Industry 4.0, with curricula designed to make students fully operational upon graduation.
« All training is done through apprenticeships, and a large part of the courses is hands-on, » emphasizes Zoé Terrier, head of business relations at Polyaéro. The institution has aircraft (planes, helicopters, drones) for students to practice maintenance operations directly, as well as virtual reality headsets for immersion in new technologies.
The center maintains close ties with students from the Tallard middle school, where they have lunch daily. Polyaéro also contributes to research with a dedicated laboratory for new technologies (AI, virtual and augmented reality, 3D scanning and printing).
Polyaéro's reputation now extends far beyond the Hautes-Alpes and even Provence, attracting applications from across France. Its graduates are highly sought after by companies in the aeronautical sector, including major names like Beringer, Rotortrade, Daher, Icarius, and Aérotechnics.
After celebrating its 10th anniversary on December 12th, the center will host an open house on Saturday, February 13th, 2027, offering the public a chance to discover its programs and meet the team and students.
