When Students Build Drones: FACC Highlights Career Paths at the “Long Night of Research”

Last Friday, over 1,000 visitors attended the "Long Night of Research" at the FACC Academy in Austria to learn about current developments in the aviation industry. The program ranged from innovative drone projects with partner schools to insights into modern component manufacturing and the newly opened Safety Center.

Why are airplanes the safest mode of transportation in the world? What is the function of winglets? How high can air taxis fly? Questions like these took center stage as over 1,000 visitors attended the FACC Academy during the Long Night of Research. The event offered a hands-on experience of FACC’s high-tech manufacturing and future mobility concepts. By participating in the Research Night, FACC underscored its position as a top employer in the region and demonstrated how young talents can apply the knowledge gained from their training directly to industrial practical projects.

Focus on the Future of Mobility

Special attention was given to the field of Advanced Air Mobility: Visitors learned about the current state of development for logistics and parcel drones, as well as the technological requirements for future air taxis designed for passenger transport. To ensure the necessary range in urban airspace, these new and sustainable forms of mobility rely heavily on high-tech lightweight construction. FACC is a globally renowned partner to the international aviation industry in the development of lightweight construction solutions for autonomous aircraft.

Students Build Logistics Drone

A key focus was the presentation of collaborative projects with educational institutions: As part of the two-year HELD project, students from the HTLs in Vöcklabruck, Ried, Andorf, and Braunau presented a parcel drone developed in collaboration with FACC. At the same time, FACC scholarship recipients from the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria presented a lightweight drone they had also developed themselves. These projects underscore FACC’s strategy of positioning itself early on as a partner for technological talent and providing practical insights into the aviation industry.

Why Airplanes Are the Safest Mode of Transportation in the World

Flying is about 20 times safer than traveling by train, 1,200 times safer than driving a car, and 10,000 times safer than riding a motorcycle. As part of the Long Night of Research, FACC experts gave tours of the Safety Center, which opened last year. During the tours, they demonstrated how the company, together with the entire industry, ensures the highest standards—and how every single employee makes a crucial contribution to this commitment to safety.

About the Long Night of Research

The Long Night of Research (Lange Nacht der Forschung) is the largest nationwide event for science and research in Austria. Held biennially, it aims to make complex scientific topics accessible to the general public through hands-on stations, guided tours, and interactive presentations. By opening the doors of universities, research institutes, and industrial companies, the event fosters a direct dialogue between the research community and the public, inspiring curiosity and showcasing Austria's innovative strength.