Digital, resilient and sustainable?

Aviation can become the model for the new world of sustainability: an example of global co-operation
across industries, using shared principles, mutual support and determination to work through
challenges. Professor KEITH MASON, Head of the Centre for Air Transport Management, Cranfield
University, reports from the final in a series of high-level summits.

This was the message coming from the final summit in the series co-hosted by Cranfield University and
the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). The Paris & European event was the last in a global series of four
virtual summits bringing together leading figures from airlines, manufacturers, industry bodies,
governments and academia to debate ‘Re-imagining the Future of Civil Aviation - Digital, Resilient and
Sustainable’.

The final event provided an opportunity for civil aviation leaders to crystallise their shared position
ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 in November 2021 and the important
ICAO Assembly in 2022. A clear and positive vision of what can be achieved, step by step - while at the
same time recognising the sector does not yet have all the answers over which technologies are going to
be viable, the need for some difficult trade-offs, collaboration over regulation, and the imperative role of
financial support from both governments and the private sector.

The importance of sustainable aviation fuel

In May 2021, Air France-KLM carried out the first long-haul flight powered by SAF produced in France.
(AF-KLM)

Securing industry-wide adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) was agreed to be the fundamental
next step. While electric aircraft will be able to fulfil the short-haul role, the only realistic long-haul
option is SAFs. Investment is needed to find ways to produce SAFs at the necessary scale and to lower
costs. Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) emphasised
that airlines themselves would not be in a position to fund the R&D needed to move SAFs forward.
Industry figures agreed that SAFs are a real opportunity for governments to demonstrate commitment
to sustainability and real change in aviation now.

There was also recognition of the need for global consistency in the availability of new aircraft and
operational technologies: no country left behind. Europe and North America are recognised as having
taken a leadership role in pushing for sustainable aviation. But partnership - particularly alongside
organisations and regulatory bodies in the areas seeing the highest growth in aviation traffic in Asia -
was seen as crucial. Jane Hupe, Deputy Director (Environment) for the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO), highlighted the key importance of digitalisation in delivering future efficiencies and
sustainability. ICAO, she said, would need to play its part both in certification of the new standards of
technologies being introduced, and in the outreach to all nations to ensure the aviation network could
be consistent. At the same it was accepted that a two-speed system was likely for the initial period as
work is carried out to test and establish principles and technologies ahead of global development and
roll-out.
Digitisation - a chance to pull in fresh talent?

On the 14 July Cranfield''s Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) was officially
opened. (Cranfield University)

Civil aviation needs to be in a position to compete with other sectors for the best talent, argued Sir
Martin Donnelly, President of Boeing Europe and Managing Director UK. Technically competent people -
but also those with the passion needed to help the industry overcome its challenges and take its
opportunities. As every sector looks to digitise and find working models for a sustainable future, many
more employers are going to be looking to tap into the same supplies of skills. Being able to offer a
positive vision of aviation and its world-changing ambitions around the environment and climate
change, said Sir Martin, will be an essential part of the sector’s pitch to prospective new generations of
talent.

The ATAG/Cranfield summits have been just the beginning of activities in support of the process of
concerted thinking and action for change. Working groups have been set up to encourage cross-sector
development and sharing of ideas around digitisation and building resilience as well as sustainability.
Key messages from the summit events and working groups will be included in the ICAO ‘stocktaking’
events; fed into the work of the UK’s Jet Zero Council; and used as a focus for a COP26 fringe event.
Plans are being discussed for an annual global aviation summit. The series has also led to a global
network, new contacts and ongoing conversation, exactly the kind of collaboration that will be the life
blood of our new civil aviation.