Earlier this June, ALBATROS marked a major milestone in its validation journey with Demo 10, a three-day live demonstration and training event dedicated to one of aviation’s most pressing safety frontiers: how to respond to fire emergencies involving hydrogen.

Held from June 3rd to 5th at the renowned ENSOSP facility in Aix-en-Provence, France, this event brought together experts, first responders, and project partners to explore the real-world implications of hydrogen integration into future aircraft systems — and to test how prepared we really are.

A Real-World Platform for Real-Time Risks

ENSOSP – the École nationale supérieure des officiers de sapeurs-pompiers – provided a unique setting for the demonstration. With its multi-energy platform, the site allows for controlled yet realistic hydrogen fire scenarios, offering a crucial space where new technologies and safety procedures can be safely tested and refined.

Over the course of the demo, 11 airport firefighters were joined by ALBATROS partners from across Europe:
NLR – Netherlands Aerospace Centre, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Athens International Airport, Pipistrel Aircraft, and Royal Schiphol Group — all working to advance hydrogen emergency readiness.

Three Days, One Mission: Training, Testing, and Teaming Up

  • Day 1 – Understanding the Science
    Participants explored hydrogen’s physical properties and combustion behavior, building essential knowledge to support safe response protocols.

  • Day 2 – Hands-On Drills
    Firefighters conducted real-world operational training, testing their first-response capabilities in realistic fire scenarios powered by hydrogen.

  • Day 3 – Demonstrations & Tactical Analysis
    Live leak and fire simulations were accompanied by a drone deployment from NLR, showcasing how airborne situational awareness can enhance safety. In the afternoon, mixed teams of responders and technical experts engaged in tabletop exercises, collaboratively evaluating tactics and lessons learned from simulated leak events.

Why It Matters

As hydrogen becomes more prominent in aviation’s shift toward decarbonization, its safety profile requires attention. Hydrogen is light, flammable, and behaves differently from conventional jet fuel. Demo 10 addressed these challenges head-on, preparing the people who will be on the frontlines of future emergencies.

Key Takeaways

✔️ Cross-sector collaboration in action
✔️ Practical validation of new procedures and tools
✔️ Strengthened understanding of hydrogen’s operational risks
✔️ Feedback collected to improve future demonstrations

Looking Ahead

Demo 10 was just one stop on the ALBATROS validation roadmap. Next, the consortium turns to Athens and Rotterdam, where more demonstrations will test innovations across ground operations, drones, and risk-informed coordination.

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A heartfelt thank you to ENSOSP and all contributing partners for their commitment and energy. ALBATROS is moving forward — one demonstration at a time.