Meet Oria & Antoine

Define your job title in one sentence

Oria: I analyze how aircraft behave during the critical phases of takeoff and landing. By mapping out their exact limits, I help guarantee they operate safely and efficiently.

Antoine: My day-to-day involves designing custom test fixtures, running environmental shaker and Ground Vibration Tests (GVT), and analysing structural data.  It’s all about making sure every aircraft component is built to safely withstand flight conditions. 

What inspired you to join Airbus? 

Oria: My passion for piloting entirely shaped my professional path; ever since I started flying, I knew I wanted to specialise in aircraft performance. To me, this field is unique because it encompasses the aircraft as a whole, making it the closest engineering discipline to cockpit experience. I chose Airbus because its pioneering spirit and focus on innovation gives me the incredible opportunity to actively participate in building the aviation of tomorrow. 

Antoine: Having held my PPL (Private Pilot License) for three years, aviation is my daily passion. Airbus is the ultimate environment for me because it allows me to directly bridge my technical expertise in structural mechanics with my firsthand experience as a pilot, working on the very aircraft I love to fly.

How does your role contribute to Airbus’ mission or the success of its products?

Oria: No two takeoffs are ever the same. A plane departing a short runway in scorching summer heat faces totally different physics than one leaving a long runway in freezing weather.

My job is to model these exact behaviors during takeoff and landing. By factoring in everything from aircraft weight and aerodynamics to wind and runway slope, we define precise operational limits. It’s a mix of data and strict EASA regulations that ensures Airbus fleets fly with maximum safety and efficiency across the globe. 

Antoine: My role covers the entire physical testing process. I design custom test rigs using CATIA to secure components for shaker and Ground Vibration Tests, set up the equipment, and analyse the vibration data.

Think of it like a guitar string: when plucked, it plays a unique note. Every aircraft part has a similar natural vibration 'signature.' We capture this real-world data on our test benches to help our design teams validate and fine-tune their computer simulations. We even test for critical in-flight phenomena like flutter. Ultimately, by seeing how components behave under real physical stress, my work ensures our aircraft are structurally safe and reliable. 

Is there a specific project or moment you’re particularly proud of? Why?

Oria: I am particularly proud of my work within the R&T (Research and Technology) team, where I contribute to developing the performance tools of tomorrow and work on future Airbus programmes. Knowing that the models I create today are directly shaping the future of aviation, paving the way for the next generation of safer and more efficient aircraft, gives me a real sense of accomplishment. The goal isn't just to evaluate current architectures, but to map out the capabilities of new aircraft concepts years before they ever fly. This data helps ensure that these future concepts are optimised for maximum efficiency and flawless safety right from the preliminary design phase. Developing these pioneering models and seeing how precisely these tools can predict the behavior of an unprecedented design is fascinating. 

Antoine: I am particularly proud of working on massive ground tests where we physically shake a whole aircraft or large components before its very first flight. The goal isn't to push the parts to their breaking point, but to perfectly map out the plane’s unique "vibrational signature" — what we call a modal base. Designing the custom fixtures to hold the equipment and watching hundreds of sensors capture how the structure naturally vibrates is incredible. This data helps ensure that when the plane flies at high speeds, it won't trigger critical phenomena like flutter. To picture it, flutter is like holding a flexible ruler out of a car window on the highway: past a certain speed, the wind forces it to suddenly twist and wobble uncontrollably. Our data ensures the aircraft structure remains perfectly steady. Knowing our work directly helps the team safely give the final green light to clear the aircraft for flight is an incredible feeling.

What would you say to someone who doesn’t think they “fit” in aerospace?

Oria: You don’t need a specialised aeronautics diploma to build a successful career in this industry. My own engineering background is generalist, with no initial connection to aviation at all. What truly matters at Airbus is your curiosity, your capacity to learn, your adaptability, and how you approach challenges. Coming from a different path is actually a real strength; it gives you a fresh perspective to look at complex systems differently. If you are driven by curiosity and a desire to innovate, the aerospace world needs your unique background. 

Antoine: Aerospace thrives on multidisciplinary minds, and it is definitely not a field reserved only for purely theoretical profiles. Outside of Airbus, I work as a trackside motorsport engineer for racing trucks and as a sound engineer. Frequencies, acoustics, and data analysis are universal languages — whether you are tuning a racing chassis, aligning a concert sound system, or testing an aircraft structure. If you love solving complex physical puzzles, you fit here.

Which Airbus value resonates with you, and why?

Oria: Because aircraft performance studies the airplane as a complete system, it relies on collective synergy. My daily work requires constant collaboration with multiple specialized fields, such as aerodynamics and handling qualities, which perfectly embodies the 'We Are One' spirit. 

Being part of the R&T team also adds a powerful dimension of creativity to this collaboration: designing the performance tools and aircraft of the future requires us to constantly find new solutions. We innovate and shape the next generation of flight together. 

Antoine: In my daily role, I am constantly collaborating with structural, propulsion, and flight test teams. Just like in a racing team pit lane or inside a cockpit, you never succeed alone. Preparing heavy test campaigns requires seamless communication and mutual trust to achieve our safety goals.

How do you like to spend your time when you're not working? 

Oria: When I am not at work, you will usually find me in the skies! Piloting light aircraft offers an incredible sense of freedom while demanding absolute focus and rigor. I apply that same drive and mental stamina on the ground when training for marathons.

Beyond sports, giving back is incredibly important to me. After volunteering with a cultural youth outreach programme in Marseille, I’m taking my commitment a step further this September by becoming a mentor for 'Capital Filles'. Empowering the next generation -especially encouraging young girls to confidently pursue their ambitions and reach their full potential -is incredibly fulfilling. 

Antoine: When I'm not at work, I split my free time between three major passions: flying, motorsport, and acoustics. First and foremost, as a private pilot, I love being up in the skies flying light aircraft. On the ground, I work as a freelance trackside engineer in the French and FIA European Truck Racing Championship, managing live telemetry, CAN bus data, and chassis setups. Finally, I also operate as a sound engineer, focusing on acoustic optimization, system phasing, and audio diffusion for events. Waves, dynamics, and data are part of everything I do!

Oria, Can you tell us more about your participation at the  “Tour Aerien de jeunes pilotes” ?

At the end of July, I will be participating in the “Tour Aérien des Jeunes Pilotes”, organized by the French Aeronautical Federation (FFA). It is an honor to be among the 46 pilots chosen nationwide, and one of only six young women selected this year. This 15-day aviation journey features 7 stops across France, combining precision navigation competitions with public airshows. Beyond the technical and piloting challenges, what makes this experience so meaningful is the opportunity to connect with the public. Throughout the tour, the goal is to actively promote responsible, sustainable, and accessible aviation for everyone. It is a fantastic platform to share my passion for flight while advocating for the future of our industry. Being one of the few female pilots in this edition, it is important for me to connect with the next generation, specifically young girls. I am eager to use every single stop to share my journey, shatter stereotypes, and prove to them that the cockpit—and the aerospace world as a whole — is a place where they absolutely belong.

Antoine, do you have any special anecdotes ? 

While I didn't take part in that specific tour, a major aviation milestone for me was completing my Night VFR rating at ACAT (Aéro-Club du CE Airbus France Toulouse) alongside another Airbus colleague.

I really enjoy flying the club’s diverse fleet, switching between the DR400, DA20, DA40, and Sprintair. Each aircraft has its own mechanical specificities and handling qualities, which gives me an excellent technical perspective and helps me take a step back in my daily engineering work. Flying one of these light aircraft in pitch black is an incredibly intense experience where you must have absolute trust in your instruments and your plane's structural integrity — the exact same parameters I work to validate every day on our laboratory test benches! Sharing that journey within the Airbus club perfectly illustrates our community's shared passion.