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Aerospace manufacturers outline net-zero emissions road map
October 27th 2021
Chief technology officers of seven major aerospace companies this week called on policymakers, research institutions, fuel producers and airport operators to build on progress in recent years to make the aviation industry more sustainable. Read More » The CTOs of Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Safran made the call after a meeting in London ahead of the COP26 climate conference. The prelude to COP 26, which will be held in Glasgow, has seen a flurry of commitments to the net-zero 2050 carbon goal, including from delegates to the International Air Transport Association’s recent annual general meeting. In a joint statement, the CTOs said flying today used 80% less fuel per revenue passenger kilometre than it did 50 years ago. They identified three core aviation technology areas to help reach the 2050 net-zero emissions goal. They are a focus on advancing aircraft and engine design and technology, support for increased availability and adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and investigations into hydrogen as a fuel of the future. The companies also will continue to develop novel technologies such as electric propulsion. The CTOs revealed their conglomerates had spent more than US$75 billion in research and development in the past five years, but called for more support from policymakers and other institutions. At the top of the CTOs agenda was a sustained and planned approach from policymakers to support the development of novel technologies and stimulate the ramp-up of SAF and green hydrogen production capacity. Also needed was a globally consistent approach to regulation and certification standards, more collaboration on developing new technologies between researchers and industry as well as investment in SAF production by fuel producers. Airport operators also needed to invest in the infrastructure necessary to support new aviation technologies, they said.
