Milestone
This involves launching the first small-scale, real-world tests for advanced operational concepts using existing aircraft. This includes demonstrating the fuel-saving potential of concepts like formation flight and continuous descent approach in controlled, live airspace to prove their value.
Failure to pilot these concepts means their efficiency gains remain purely theoretical. This would rob the system of crucial "early wins" in fuel savings and prevent the new unified ATM system from being designed to incorporate these advanced operations from the start.
Scenario
Optimising together
Context Factor
A fully developed, certified, and deployed ecosystem of net-zero technologies, from new propulsion to full autonomy.
Timeline
Short term
PESTEL
Establish 'regulatory sandboxes' to accelerate certification of new technologies.
This requires key regulators (e.g., EASA, FAA) to create temporary, monitored pathways for innovation. This allows innovators to co-develop safety cases in a live environment, such as in a designated trans-Atlantic corridor for testing autonomous cargo flights.
Read moreDemonstrate unified, AI-driven Air Traffic Management (ATM) protocols at scale.
This action involves moving the new ATM system from simulation to a live, large-scale demonstration. This means proving its safety and efficiency in a real-world setting, such as with fully autonomous, AI-managed flight operations across the 'North Atlantic Tracks' (NATs).
Read moreSecure initial investments to build competitive, liberalized net-zero markets.
This action involves creating the financial architecture for the transition. It requires governments to create large-scale public funds to provide first-loss capital, which "de-risks" the sector enough to attract massive private investment.
Read morePromoting the coolness of sustainable travel aims to shift travellers to a more sustainable mode of transport and/or aims to let travellers reduce their amount of travel(-kilometres) by promoting attractive, sustainable alternatives (carrot).
Implementing this measure starts with the definition of this ‘alternative offer’: what would it look like? What value(s) would it provide to the passenger? There should be clear advantages to using the least polluting travel mode and travelling less far or less frequent in addition to increased sustainability. Examples are lower prices or a unique travel experience for more sustainable travel modes, holiday alternative closer to home or incentives to staying longer at the same location (travelling less overall). Governments can stimulate the necessary technological developments of aircraft manufacturers and operational changes at airlines with regulation and taxation that favor sustainable travel. This would allow airlines and travel agents effectively market these travel options. The offer should be targeted first at travel fanatics who travel the most without a specific need for a particular destination and young travelers with a willing to try new things, and benefit from new, sustainable habits. Influencers aimed at these target demographics can demonstrate the experience and travel value of the new sustainable propositions. When indeed sustainable and attractive, travelers who are already interested in sustainable travel can tag along without the need for additional promotion.
(2027-2035) "Integration of AAM tailored traffic management services, including UTM, with ATM." (IATA New Aviation Ecosystem Roadmap (2023), p. 5)