Keynote: Dr. Claudio Dalle Donne, Airbus, presents, “Future Materials: Resilience, Digitalization, and Circularity for Next Generation Commercial Aircraft”
Future Materials: Resilience, Digitalization, and Circularity for Next Generation Commercial Aircraft
Dr. Claudio Dalle Donne
Airbus
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall A – Industry Forum
Abstract: The transition to zero-emission aviation requires more than new propulsion systems; it demands a total evolution of the materials forming the airframe (and engine). This presentation offers a practitioner’s view on the general principles and practical examples required to reach a carbon-neutral future, based on four pillars:
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Learning from the Past: Based on in-service returns, we demonstrate the critical importance of getting material test data right from the outset. We translate this deep oversight into improved test methods for novel materials. A primary focus is the development of Airframe Digital Corrosion and NDT Twins—digital mirrors that enable predictive monitoring, improved designs and material choices
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The Supply Chain Crisis: A special focus is placed on the lessons learned from the post-pandemic industrial landscape. A key principle is achieving material sovereignty by aggressively reducing material variability. Furthermore, we explore the strategic opportunities for Additive Manufacturing (AM) to bypass traditional casting and forging bottlenecks.
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Sustainability and Circularity: we define Sustainability as a design requirement and Circularity as a key enabler towards material sovereignty.
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Digitalization as an Accelerator: throughout the practical examples above, it is shown how digitalization is the key enabler for the entire material lifecycle
Biography: Dr.-Ing. Claudio Dalle Donne is the Vice President and Head of Materials, Processes, and Tests within the Airframe Engineering Competence Center at Airbus Operations. With over 30 years of expertise, he has overseen the entire aerospace material lifecycle, from initial research to end-of-life recycling.
A globally recognized authority, Dr. Dalle Donne sits on the boards of Institutes of the German Aerospace Centers (DLR) and Fraunhofer. His significant contributions to the field were honored in 2023 with the ICAF Plantema Medal, a prestigious international recognition for aeronautical fatigue research. He holds a Ph.D. in Fracture Mechanics and an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe.