In this live recording from Verticon, host John Ramstead sits down with Thibault Baldivia, co-founder of Ascendance, a pioneering company in the hybrid-electric aviation space. Thibault shares his journey from working at Airbus on one of the world’s first electric aircraft to building the next generation of hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft at Ascendance. The discussion dives deep into the technical, environmental, and operational advantages of hybrid propulsion systems over fully electric and traditional aircraft, especially in real-world applications where infrastructure and range pose limitations.

You’ll also hear insights into Ascendance’s Atea aircraft and its Sterna propulsion system — how they're optimizing fuel efficiency by up to 80% compared to conventional rotorcraft, and why their mission targets existing helicopter markets rather than speculative air taxi concepts. This episode is a must-listen for anyone excited about the future of sustainable aviation and advanced air mobility.

Thibault Baldivia is the co-founder of Ascendance, a French aerospace company focused on building sustainable hybrid-electric aircraft. Prior to founding Ascendance, Thibault worked at Airbus, where he contributed to the development of the E-Fan, one of the world’s first all-electric aircraft. Thibault and his co-founders are now leading innovation in hybrid propulsion, developing the Atea VTOL aircraft and Sterna hybrid system to transform regional and urban air mobility without the need for new infrastructure. He brings deep expertise in electrical engineering, aircraft design, and aviation systems integration.

Ascendance is a pioneering French aerospace company developing next-generation hybrid-electric aircraft designed to make aviation cleaner, more efficient, and accessible. Founded by former Airbus engineers, the company is focused on real-world solutions like the Atea, a five-seat vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft powered by Sterna, their proprietary hybrid propulsion system. By combining electric power with sustainable aviation fuel, Ascendance enables significant reductions in fuel consumption and emissions without requiring new infrastructure, making it a practical choice for modern air mobility.

"We were really trailblazing the whole thing... electric brings a lot of benefits, but also comes with drawbacks that are still very hard to overcome."
– Thibault Baldivia

"We are resizing the turbine for cruise, and the extra power needed for takeoff comes from the battery — it’s a smart hybrid approach."
– Thibault Baldivia

"You don’t want to invest heavily in infrastructure to make this happen. That’s why hybrid is key."
– Thibault Baldivia

"We’re not trying to create a new market — we’re going after existing helicopter operators with a better, cleaner solution."
– Thibault Baldivia

"From a pilot's perspective, the system must be simple — throttle and go. Our tech handles the complexity behind the scenes."
– Thibault Baldivia