David Roche on Building the Next Generation of Aircraft

In this episode David Roche, Deputy Chief Digital Officer at AURA AERO, shares how a new wave of industrial pioneers is reimagining aviation from the ground up. From his early days in digital simulation at Dassault and Airbus to leading digital transformation at one of France’s most innovative aerospace companies, Roche embodies the union of engineering precision and entrepreneurial boldness.

Key Takeaways: From Software to Sky: Trained as a computer engineer, Roche’s journey began in 3D modeling and virtual reality at Dassault Systèmes and Airbus. This deep digital background became the foundation for his later work at AURA AERO, where every aircraft is designed and certified entirely in a paperless, fully digital environment.

Reinventing Aviation, Not Just Aircraft: AURA AERO’s mission goes beyond creating electric planes. Its founders set out to build a new kind of aircraft manufacturer — mastering the entire lifecycle from design to operation. The company’s “Integral” aircraft marked the first step, followed by the first flight of an all-electric version and the ongoing development of a 19-seat regional hybrid aircraft.

Resilience in the Face of Setbacks: After a tragic prototype accident, AURA AERO’s community of engineers, investors, and pilots rallied together to continue the mission. This shared determination to learn, rebuild, and move forward reflects the pioneering spirit that drives the aerospace industry.

Data as the New Airframe: For Roche, the true enabler of industrial transformation is data. From digital continuity across engineering and production to secure, structured data pipelines, AURA AERO treats every dataset as a strategic asset. Their systems now allow real-time data collection from aircraft, paving the way for predictive analytics and AI-assisted operations.

AI Grounded in Reality: Roche emphasizes that artificial intelligence only adds value when built on solid data foundations. The company is developing an internal platform to prototype AI applications—optimizing flight paths, energy use, and pilot support systems, all grounded in operational data rather than theoretical R&D.

Building a Digital-First Manufacturer: AURA AERO’s “Digital Integration” team ensures technology serves people, not the other way around. By selecting the best SaaS tools, integrating them seamlessly, and developing custom solutions when needed, the company maintains agility while scaling globally.

Conclusion:

David Roche’s story exemplifies a new generation of industrial entrepreneurs merging software thinking with physical manufacturing. Through AURA AERO, he demonstrates that decarbonizing aviation is not just about cleaner engines—it’s about rebuilding the entire industrial model for a more connected, data-driven future.

Listen to the full episode of Next Gen Industrials, the OSS Ventures podcast hosted by Jean-Philippe Lorinquer, on Spotify or YouTube.

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