Coventry University hosted its Sustainable Future Aviation Symposium as key industry guests highlighted recurring themes on targets and the future path of the industry. Gianluca Spataro reported on the symposium for CILT(UK and shares a summary of some of the key takeaways.

The race for net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is an ongoing challenge the aviation industry faces regarding how this target can be executed.

Industry collaboration, uncertainties around Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and new emerging technology were key topics discussed during the symposium.  

CILT’s Aviation Policy Chair, Paul Le Blond FCILT spoke of sustainability challanges, highlighting the sustainable aviation net zero carbon road map, looking ahead to 2050. 

Paul further emphasised the path for decarbonisation includes, improving efficiency, airlines responding to customers, government action on carbon budgets, SAF mandates and emissions trading.

"Look at how the sustainability challenge is being met while at the same time achieving growth and always remember the full definition of sustainability and its three pillars," said Paul. 

Sharing aviation data

Cirium Aviation Analytics CEO, Jeremy Bowen spoke of the importance of sharing and recording aviation data to boost strength within the industry.

He mentioned the most accurate way to measure emissions is calculating historical fuel burn and CO2 emissions flow, per aircraft, per flight, per seat in addition to forecasted fuel burn and CO2 emissions for future scheduled flights.

Jeremy also detailed the challenges of SAF, underlining its expense and the difficulties around its production, “it’s not there yet” he mentioned in his presentation. 

Solutions written in Jeremy’s presentation regarding reaching net zero emissions were to innovate aircraft design and new propulsion technology.

Jeremy said: “Corporate travel is the major commercial driver worth up to $250 billion a year for airlines.

“If $250 billion of activism turns to airlines for decarbonisation, it’s going to happen, he added.”

He drew attention to the importance of sharing insights and information encouraging the industry to unite and aim to accomplish global targets together.

This discussion of activism was touched on by ATM Consultant Joe Wildman’s speech who said “the clock is ticking” and that aviation must become more sustainable now.

He conferred effective governance, environmentally focused company culture and clear environmental targets are needed within the Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) role in driving aviation sustainability.

Embraer’s sustainability road map

Daniele Sansone, regional director for airline marketing at Brazilian airline manufacturing company Embraer, gave insight on the upcoming aircraft designs and targets the company has set.

This included Embraer’s vision of using regular SAF from 2021 to reach 25% SAF in operations by 2040.  

Embraer’s Brazil facility also has ambitions to use 100% renewable energy sources with a desired goal to achieve this worldwide by 2030.

A concept that stood out was Embraer’s 2035 goal to produce hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and electric aircraft from their Energia family concepts in a step to reach the global 2050 net zero target.

The company is exploring a range of concepts with new aircraft initiatives through new propulsion technology with ambitions to reduce their carbon emissions by 50% in 2030.

eVTOL transition

On the topic of new technological advancements, electric vertical take-off and landing aircrafts (eVTOLs) are expected to become a market that will eventually replace helicopters.

Managing Director at Flexjet, Will Fanshawe, said to ensure the smooth transition of eVTOL’s, digital and physical infrastructure such as vertiport construction, mobility integration, services and safety practices all need to be addressed before they are introduced.

eVTOL’s could become major players in the sustainability game also cancelling out current restriction’s helicopters have when landing on helipads in cities due to noise emissions.

Will said: “The anticipation of eVTOL’s is that we are going to get noise levels down to a point at which at street level you won’t notice them arriving on top of buildings.”

The Flexjet managing director also shared their SAF targets stating they are committed to 12% of their fleets annual fuel consumption coming from SAF by 2030.