According to Dr Michelle Carter, head of transport KTN, investment in R&D and atypical collaborations are key to driving aerospace innovation forward.
We saw during the coronavirus pandemic a reduction in UK carbon emissions of 36% in the first four weeks of lockdown (compared to 2018). As people travelled more, those savings dropped to 16% in June (ONS). These short-lived carbon savings highlight the need for investment in ambitious technologies to transform the way we move people, goods and services.
The aviation sector is expected to have a four-year post-Covid recovery with aerospace lagging by a further year (IATA Economics, Oliver Wyman). But this should not hamper investment in R&D or initiatives to ensure the industry recovers but also delivers world-leading technologies. KTN is supporting three initiatives that aim to do just that.
A demand for improved efficiencies and regional connectivity is driving innovation in air travel to improve access to jobs, education, healthcare, goods and services. Following a comprehensive study, we conducted on behalf of Innovate UK looking at the innovation opportunities in aviation to address those demands, Future Flight emerged; a new government and industry funded challenge to transform UK aviation to deliver new classes of autonomous and electric and/or electric/hybrid air vehicles.
This programme is first of its kind. The challenge is the holistic, integrated approach to ensure the physical and digital infrastructure exists to enable these new aircraft to fly. Future Flight will change people’s lives. It will improve access to jobs, education, healthcare and services. It will transform the logistics supply chain and offer new ways to operate in hazardous environments. To create this future integrated form of air travel will require new business models such as on-demand travel and mobility-as-a-service. Hence, Future Flight needs new partnerships to form; people who operate in different markets and bring new ideas. Brokering collaborations between disparate innovators will be key to unlocking the UK’s potential to deliver a world-leading future aviation system.
The new government-led Jet Zero Council has the ambition for the UK to be a global leader in zero emission aircraft technology and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). KTN has joined the panel of experts on the Council which aims to demonstrate the world’s first zero emission trans-Atlantic flight by 2040. Alongside aerostructure modifications and changes to air traffic management, key to achieving the ambition is SAF. Over two years, KTN has built a strong SAF innovation community across the entire supply chain, from feedstock providers to chemical engineers to airlines and OEMs. The UK has strong expertise in chemical engineering, manufacturing and the life sciences as well as fuel systems experts at Airbus and Rolls-Royce. We are now at a critical juncture, if government ambition is for the UK to be a global leader in SAF, we need investment in R&D and in fuel production facilities.
The cost of scaling up fuel production and gaining fit-for-purpose approval of the fuel are significant barriers to market entry. Any new fuel produced is required to go through an extensive four stage fit-for-purpose testing process involving increasing volumes of fuel and cost. In recognition of this barrier, KTN set up a UK Clearing House Task Force, chaired by Rolls-Royce, to develop a business case on behalf of government to create a UK Clearing House for SAF to enable fuel producers to access early stage testing of their fuel. The Department for Transport will submit the request in the next Comprehensive Spending Review. KTN is ready to engage with organisations in the UK who can offer ASTM D4054 compliant tests.
The innovation landscape is changing as we demand a more connected, efficient and sustainable transport system. We will need atypical collaborations to truly unlock the UK’s potential to transform the aerospace and aviation industry.
