The challenge facing aviation is to satisfy the predicted growth in demand for air travel in a way that ensures that the environment is protected. Sustainable solutions can only be found through partnership and collaboration on research, development and policy. Significant progress is being made but there remains much to do.
The Green Aviation Research and Development Network weather with the objective to reduce the environmental footprint of the aerospace industry, and to promote and to bring financial support to the environmental research in the area of green aviation. The seven themes of research targeted are: noise and source emissions reduction, materials and manufacturing processes, airport and aircraft operations, alternative fuels and product lifecycle management.
To succeed in reducing emissions it will be necessary to develop and implement new technologies across the aviation system. Reduction of engine emissions is part of the story but significant advances can also be made through modifying the design and configuration of the aircraft as well as optimizing air traffic management.