Fly

the Green Deal

Europe’s Vision for

Sustainable Aviation
Report of the
Advisory Council for Aviation
Research and Innovation in Europe
(ACARE)

Research and
Innovation
Fly the Green Deal, Europe’s Vision for Sustainable Aviation, Report of the Advisory Council for Aviation Research and
Innovation in Europe (ACARE)
European Commission
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Directorate C — Clean Planet
Unit C.3 — Low Emission Future Industries

Contact Jane Amilhat

Email [email protected]
[email protected]

European Commission
B-1049 Brussels

Manuscript completed in June 2022

1st edition.
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 EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Fly the Green Deal

Europe’s Vision for Sustainable Aviation

Report of the Advisory Council for Aviation Research and

Innovation in Europe (ACARE)

2022 Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

002 Fly the Green Deal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMISSIONER DG R&I...............................................................................4
FOREWORD...........................................................................................................5
FOREWORD...................................................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................................10

AVIATION’S CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY................................................................................................18

THE VISION : VIEW OF AVIATION 2050....................................................................................................20

OVERARCHING GOALS.........................................................................................................................................23

Achieving climate neutral aviation..........................................................................................................23

Putting the citizen at the centre...............................................................................................................25

ACTORS AND ACTIONS : AVIATION PILLARS..........................................................................................29

Aviation in the European mobility system..........................................................................................29

Vehicles and propulsion.................................................................................................................................30

Infrastructure, operations and services................................................................................................32

Aviation in the European energy and fuels system.......................................................................33

ACTORS AND ACTIONS : ENABLERS............................................................................................................35

Education, training and research.............................................................................................................35

Digital transformation....................................................................................................................................37

Development, demonstration and deployment................................................................................39

Safety, security and resilience...................................................................................................................40

 Fly the Green Deal 003

POLICY FRAMEWORK...........................................................................................................................................42

Instruments..........................................................................................................................................................42

Measuring and monitoring impacts........................................................................................................44

The role of acare...............................................................................................................................................45

CONCLUDING REMARKS....................................................................................................................................46

ANNEX

ACHIEVING CLIMATE NEUTRAL AIR MOBILITY......................................................................................47

PUTTING THE CITIZEN AT THE CENTRE.....................................................................................................48

IMPROVING GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AND COMPETITIVENESS.......................................................49

AVIATION IN THE EUROPEAN MOBILITY SYSTEM...............................................................................50

VEHICLES AND PROPULSION..........................................................................................................................51

INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS AND SERVICES................................................................................52

AVIATION IN THE EUROPEAN ENERGY AND FUELS SYSTEM.......................................................53

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH...................................................................................................54

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION.............................................................................................................................55

DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT..................................................................56

SAFETY, SECURITY AND RESILIENCE..........................................................................................................57

POLICY ENABLERS.................................................................................................................................................58

METRICS FOR MEASURING IMPACT.............................................................................................................59

004 Fly the Green Deal

COMMISSIONER
DG R&I
Foreword by the ACARE Chairteam

Mariya Gabriel
European Commissioner
Innovation, Research,
Culture, Education and Youth

Europe is standing united to face the threats to its security and as the world emerges
from the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Union is putting forward a new policy on
energy, aiming at reinforcing our strategic autonomy. In this context, investments in
research, innovation and education are crucial to accelerate the transition to climate
neutrality as a priority for the EU.
We are all called to contribute since all aspects of our lives are touched by the need
to innovate. From the individual citizen to research organisations and industrial
stakeholders, we must engage our efforts to deliver on the necessary transformations
- green and digital.
We are celebrating the European Year of Youth and it is important to remind that our
efforts are necessary to ensure a sustainable future to young generations. We are
determined to achieve the Paris Agreement goal that would greatly reduce the adverse
effects of climate change.
While we are committed to ensuring that passengers and freight should enjoy efficient
and seamless travel services, based on a resilient air transport system thoroughly
integrated with other transport modes and well connected to the rest of the world, this
should be delivered with climate neutrality by 2050 as a prerequisite.
In this context, I invited the Advisory Council for the Aviation Research and Innovation
in Europe (ACARE) to deliver an updated vision to replace the 2010’s report “Flightpath
2050 – Europe’s Vision for Aviation”.
What you hold in your hands is an ambitious, yet realistic European aviation vision that
calls upon all stakeholders to work together cooperatively and coherently.
I make the plea for the community to focus and deliver. This new vision should be
complemented by detailed roadmaps on how to achieve the goals in a cost-optimum
path, bringing together new technologies, optimised operations, new fuel options,
infrastructure investments, market-based measures, and rules.
I take the opportunity to congratulate ACARE and the European aviation ecosystem
at large. Your innovative products and operations will make European aviation a
powerhouse of global economic growth, employment, trade and tourism.
Underlining the importance of the Versailles Declaration in fostering synergies between
civilian, defence and space research and innovation, I would also call upon your
attention to a better alignment between the European and National priorities, as well
as a fresh look to skills and education.
You have my full support to make this new vision a reality.
 Fly the Green Deal 005

FOREWORD
by the ACARE Chairteam

ACARE, the Advisory

Council for Aviation
Research and Innovation
in Europe provides
strategic, technical and
institutional guidance to
the European Commission,
Member States and its
stakeholders, based on an
open forum for discussion
and a consensus-based
decision-making process.

1.
Jean-Brice Dumont ACARE stands for more than 20 years of qualified advice and
Chair of ACARE, contribution to aviation research and innovation.
EVP Airbus
In 2021, the ACARE General Assembly with the EC, the
2. Memberstates and the various aviation associations and
Rolf Henke organisations have tasked the ACARE Chairteam to organize and
ACARE Co-Chair steer a writing team to come up with a new European vision for
for DLR aviation in view of the Green Deal of the EC.

3. This new vision is a result of the work of a writing team

Bart de Vries composed of almost all European aviation stakeholders
ACARE Co-Chair and, therefore, it is not only a description of goals but also a
KLM commitment of all of us to work towards this vision.

As ACARE Chairteam we are proud to present this document to

the public but in particular to the European aviation community.

With this document in your hands, also ACARE is at the dawn of a

new era, from growth as in the past to sustainability for the sake
of our planet.
006 Fly the Green Deal

Top 100 EU Aviation Stakeholders subscribing

Logos by category in alphabetic order:

An unprecedented
alliance of the policy
stakeholders as the European Commission directorates-general for
European Commission, Climate Action; Defence Industry and Space;
its Member States, Energy; Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion;
aviation research Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and
organisations, design SMEs; Mobility and Transport; Research and
and manufacturing Innovation.
industry, airlines,
airports, aviation
energy and
service providers
have gathered to
synchronise their
path lead to a world
of exceptionally
efficient, accessible
and sustainable air
mobility.
Fly the Green Deal 007
008 Fly the Green Deal

FOREWORD
Europe’s evolving view of the future of aviation is community have produced the Association of
set out in a series of vision documents. “European European Research Establishments in Aeronautics
Aeronautics: A Vision for 2020” was written in (EREA) Seven Point Plan (7PP), the World Economic
2000. “Flightpath 2050 – Europe’s Vision for Forum “Clean Skies for tomorrow” initiative, the
Aviation” was launched in 2010. These documents Destination 2050 “Route to net-zero European
have provided the universal references for aviation aviation by 2050” and launched the Toulouse
strategy and guided decision-making processes Declaration as a public-private aviation initiative
across the globe. to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

Over the past two decades, European aviation has Disruptive technologies and operations are
made significant advances. Aircraft manufacture emerging that challenge the established norm.
and operation, air traffic management and Digitalisation is envisaged for all stages of the
customer service are all improving continuously, aviation value chain. Already busy airspace will
while maintaining the highest levels of safety. host a diverse mixture of traditional and new
air vehicles with greatly varying performance
But since the publication of Flightpath 2050 the and flight dynamics. New actors, with novel
world has changed, and continues to change, at and disruptive operating and business models,
an ever-increasing pace. The COVID-19 pandemic are expecting a seat at the aviation table. The
caused aviation’s biggest challenge ever: an aviation system-of-systems is increasingly being
unprecedented and extended global reduction in seen as one indispensable, embedded part of a
demand. Full recovery is still some years away broader system-of- systems providing mobility
and may be constrained by political crises and as a service. While presenting new opportunities,
conflict. Therefore, particular attention must be
paid to sector resilience and passenger health.
Escalating and volatile energy prices and
uncertainties concerning energy security are
also a concern.

Public perception of air transport is in changing.

Challenges arising from the Paris Agreement,
specifically on climate change, from both CO2
and non-CO2 effects, and local air quality and
noise, are at the forefront of many people’s
thoughts. Rapid improvements are expected
consistent with the European Green Deal and
the Fit for 55 package. As well as travellers are
now balancing the traditional concerns of journey
time, punctuality and price, the fastest, cheapest
connection against the ability to tailor their door-
to-door journey to their own priorities, including
health, and environmental impact. Some people
are even choosing not to fly in favour of other
transport modes or virtual alternatives. To address
climate concerns, elements of the aviation
 Fly the Green Deal 009

these developments raise new safety and together cooperatively and coherently. Building on
security challenges. the good work already performed, this new Vision
Despite shocks and challenges, aviation must replaces Flightpath 2050 to forge the way to the
continue to transport passengers and freight in an transition from aviation’s Era of Growth (1990-
increasingly connected world, delivering societal, 2020) to its Era of Transformation (2020-2050).
economic and environmental benefits. Therefore, This Vision sets a coherent and comprehensive
under the Advisory Council for Aviation Research set of commonly-agreed specific goals, to address
and Innovation in Europe (ACARE) umbrella, the the societal and political demands arising from
European aviation community has come together new and emerging challenges with the urgency
to develop this new Vision with emphasis required. This will keep aviation safe and secure,
extending from research and innovation to include make it climate neutral by 2050 and resilient to
market uptake and the regulatory framework. It energy and health risks while fulfilling society’s
consolidates the various aviation stakeholders’ need and desire to travel. It is anticipated that this
visions, strategies and roadmaps into a single, Vision will form the basis of Europe’s strategy for
holistic and synchronised view of the future aviation to 2050 including the position and role of
for European aviation, enabling everyone to work European aviation in World aviation.
010 Fly the Green Deal

INTRODUCTION
By 2050, Climate neutrality for aviation by 2050 is the most challenging and
aviation serves society, exciting ambition since the beginning of the jet age. All aviation
connecting people and stakeholders must work seamlessly hand-in-hand with other
cultures providing climate transport modes and sectors, such as energy, for its achievement.
neutral, competitive, Well-aligned policies and incentives must facilitate and prioritise
safe, secure, resilient and research and innovation as well as maturation and application
affordable air mobility of new aviation technologies to enable the swift adoption of the
for passengers and freight cleanest operations.
as a core component of
a world-leading sustainable A group of High-level Experts, comprising the entire European
European multimodal Aviation Sector’s ecosystem have gathered together in ACARE. This
mobility service group has combined reference material, such as Destination 2050,
the Fit for 55 package, and outputs from the International Panel for
Climate Change (IPCC) and COP26, with their own broad knowledge
and expertise to envision the path towards sustainable aviation.

The work has culminated in a set of detailed, quantitative goals to

be achieved by 2050 with intermediate milestones in 2030 and
2035. These goals are elaborated in the annexes to this document.
 Fly the Green Deal 011

The path to achieving the goals is

summarised as:

• Short-term actions – by 2030:

European Union (EU) airlines are enabled and
incentivised to deliver immediate impact by
offering the cleanest, most climate friendly,
passenger centric and competitive on- ground
and in the air operations by exploiting the full
potential of innovative solutions and upgrades
available at that time. EU aviation research
replenishes resources rapidly and creates a
transformative technology pipeline of solutions,
demonstrating their regional applicability. EU
regulatory bodies accelerate the new energy
and fuel infrastructures at airports as well as
working closely with international bodies for
new standards.
012 Fly the Green Deal

• Mid-term milestones - by 2035:

Europe has demonstrated, developed and
certifies new fully sustainable commercial
aircraft and operational solutions, ready and
available for deployment in airline fleets. 100
European clean air mobility city hubs have
been launched to offer end-to-end connection
services that are seamlessly integrated, highly
efficient and climate neutral, with increased use
of hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
technologies under commercially attractive
‘level playing field’ conditions already tested
and proven thanks to regulatory sandboxes. EU
citizens are enthusiastically embarking on the
transition to a new era of air mobility.

• Long-term objectives - from 2035 to Global demand for European air mobility
2050: science, products and services is high. Long
Airports, airlines and all aviation operators lasting benefits are delivered due to excellence
enable an unprecedented roll-out of disruptive in ecological and economic performance.
sustainable fleets and services to achieve the The accelerated transformation to a new
2050 goals. European passengers and citizens dawn in aviation history has been secured
enjoy affordable, clean, silent and seamless by a comprehensive set of smart and agile
mobility. regulations and carefully crafted strategic
incentives.
 Fly the Green Deal 013

The overall Vision is only possible with Throughout the process, ACARE will continue
the proactive support and facilitation of to play the key role of aligning all stakeholders
the European Commission (EC) and and advising the EC, in a balanced, cohesive and
EU Member States that support the unbiased manner.
implementation through synchronised
instruments tailored to the stakeholders’
position in the value chain and phased to
accelerate the evolutions of solutions through
the development life-cycle.
014 Fly the Green Deal

This approach to creating the Vision and its goals was

structured as shown in the “Temple” depicted below and
is described step-by-step in this Vision document.

VISION
The European Green Deal in Aviation:
Climate neutral, seamless, competitive, safe,
secure, resilient & affordable air mobility

Achieving climate neutral aviation

GOALS

Putting the citizen at the centre

Extending global leadership & improving competitiveness

Education, training & research

Infrastructure, operations
Aviation in the European

Aviation in the European

ACTIONS AND ACTORS

Vehicles & propulsion

energy & fuel system

mobility system

Digital transformation
& services

Development, demonstration & deployment

Safety, security & resilience

IMPLEMENTATION
FRAMEWORK

Instruments (policy enablers, regulation & incentives)

Measuring and monitoring impacts

 Fly the Green Deal 015

The specific, overarching goals of the Vision are to:

• By 2050, achieve climate neutral1 aviation based on

validated and globally accepted tools and models, in the full
sustainability context (environmental, economic and societal) To meet these goals, work
in line with United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development must start immediately
Goals (SDGs), integrating the circular economy concept to be with priorities on
an equitable contributor, with other transport modes, to fully sustainability, putting the
climate neutral mobility; citizen at the centre and
developing the instruments
• Ensure the sustainability and other needs of citizens not needed to enable and
only as travellers and as customers but also as recipients incentivise the realisation
of aviation’s external impacts, such as noise and other of the Vision. Development
disturbances. This goal also includes meeting the needs of the must be complete by 2040 to
education system and skilled workforce; enable deployment by 2050.
These overarching goals
• Design and apply the necessary instruments to maintain cascade into a more
the European aviation industry’s global leadership and specific, second set of
competitiveness all along the supply chain, including cross-disciplinary goals for
researchers, manufacturers, infrastructure and aircraft the actions and actors
operators, and service providers, by providing the highest across aviation’s themes and
quality, cost efficient, innovative products and services and domains.
developing and sustaining the required human capital,
knowledge and skills.

The vertical pillars are the key, specific components for the aviation sector:

• Aviation in the European mobility system: • Infrastructure, operations and services: adapt,
integrate aviation services with the complete develop and intelligently operate infrastructure,
range of other multimodal services to create such as airspace, airports including energy hub
and provide European Mobility as a Service concepts, air traffic management, providing
(MaaS); the services needed to optimise aviation and
to enable new concepts, such as climate-
• Vehicles and propulsion: improve and optimise optimised routing, within the overall European
the environmental, noise and other impacts mobility system;
of existing vehicles; develop, deploy and
operate new vehicles, not only to achieve • Aviation in the European energy and fuel
climate neutrality through the full lifecycle but system: ensure that security and sustainability
also to meet the needs of customers; ensure are an integral part in accelerating the global
that European products are attractive and transition to clean energy; make sure that
competitive in the global market; minimise the aviation has affordable and secure access to
impacts on non-customers; fully sustainable energy and fuel sources; and
enable commonalities and economies of scale
with other sectors.

As defined in Article 2 of EU REGULATION (EU) 2021/1119 - https://ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-action/

1

european- green-deal/european-climate-law_en
016 Fly the Green Deal

The horizontal enablers are the key

transversal components common to all
aviation’s vertical pillars as well as other
sectors. These are:

• Education, training and research: build the

human capital, knowledge and concepts that
underpin aviation’s development and continuous
improvement;

• Development, demonstration and deployment:

to ensure that research ideas can be progressed
as rapidly, safely, securely and efficiently as
possible from concept through to operation;

• Digital transformation: ensure that aviation

reaps the benefits delivered by, for example,
artificial intelligence (AI) and big data;

• Safety, security and resilience: ensure that

aviation is robust against ever-evolving risks,
threats and disruptive events in the physical
and cyber worlds.
 Fly the Green Deal 017

The Vision is underpinned by policy • ACARE is the single, open, independent and
instruments and tools for measuring and non-partisan focal point for all aspects of
monitoring progress: European aviation, representing all stakeholders,
associations and organisations, to develop and
• Instruments: such as regulatory and implement a common vision and coordinated
institutional frameworks, rules, regulations and strategy providing advice to support aviation
standards that enable, incentivise, synchronise policy development at national and European
and support advancements towards the goals. level extended from research and innovation
Unlike in the past these instruments will not through to deployment and operations.
only be focused on research and development
but also include deployment, operation,
maintenance, upgrade, re-use, recycling and
disposal;

• Measuring and monitoring impacts:

novel aeronautical-specific methods that use
metrics and performance indicators to assess
progress towards the goals at all levels from
policy to operational, to quantify aviation’s
environmental, economic and social impacts,
to provide operational data, e.g. for climate
optimised routing, and as an entry-point to
global discussions.
018 Fly the Green Deal

AVIATION’S
CONTRIBUTION
TO SOCIETY
European aviation2 is a Aviation provides the essential transport links vital for European
vital sector. It’s prime integration and cohesion. Millions of Europeans rely on aviation for
goals of climate neutrality, education, training, goods and services. It is an important enabler
citizen centricity and of prosperity and wealth, stimulating development, opening new
global competitiveness markets, boosting international trade and encouraging investment.
are fully in line with and Aviation also supports many “official” tasks such as climate
contributing to the three monitoring, law enforcement, emergency medical services, disaster
Pillars of the UN SDGs: relief, and search and rescue.
environment, society and
economy. It is a sector Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, aviation’s economic and societal
in which European public contribution was substantial3. In 2018, aviation directly employed
and private stakeholders approximately 2.7 million people in Europe; every aviation job
provide world leadership to supported 4.1 more jobs amounting to 13.5 million European jobs in
meet society’s needs. total (3.6% of all employment). Aviation contributed €210 billion to
European gross domestic product (GDP), extending to approximately
€850 billion (4.4% of all Europe’s GDP) when downstream indirect

© DLR
 Fly the Green Deal 019

and induced effects and tourism are taken into With demand to fly in Europe set to grow, plus
account. Beyond this economic impact, aviation is other emitting sectors decarbonising in line
of sovereign importance and is intimately linked with their own commitments, the proportion of
European and National Security, the common emissions attributable to aviation in Europe will
research base in Aerospace and Defence as well increase if no action is taken. Through various
as spin-offs and contributions to many other initiatives, stakeholders across Europe’s aviation
sectors, for example being a civil component sector are working together to achieve net zero
in dual- use systems-of-systems, such as the CO2 emissions and a 90% reduction of non-CO2
European Future Combat Air System (FCAS. The effects by 2050 consistent with the EU’s long-
benefits of aviation have also recently been term climate goals and the Paris Agreement6.
demonstrated in UN SDGs 1 to 6. The aviation sector is fully aware of its
In the ten years prior to the pandemic European responsibilities and the associated challenges,
air traffic grew continuously. Almost overnight in across all three UN sustainability Pillars. This
March 2020, the pandemic reduced European air Vision provides the basis for meeting these
traffic by approximately 70%. However, aviation challenges successfully and so enabling aviation’s
continued to play a vital societal role, initially in continued contribution to European economic and
rapidly repatriating citizens and then providing societal well-being.
freight services not least for vaccines distribution.
The decline of aviation due to the pandemic and
recent geopolitical instabilities have had adverse
impacts on trade, commerce and tourism, on
which many developing countries depend upon.
This has exacerbated poverty, hunger and civil
unrest4. As in Flightpath 2050, “aviation” means aeronautics and air transport as
2

Recovery is gradual but traffic is not expected to well as non- transport applications of aircraft,
Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders, Air Transport Action Group (ATAG),
3

return to 2019 levels until 2024 or beyond. September 2020

Aviation currently accounts for around 2- 3% of https://www.reuters.com/world/pandemics- protests-unrest-grips-
4

developing-countries- 2021-07-28/
CO2 emissions globally, and 4% in Europe. When Lee et al, The contribution of global aviation to anthropogenic climate
5

non-CO2 emissions are taken into account for forcing for 2000 to 2018, Atmospheric Environment, Elsevier, 2020
Grewe, et al, Evaluating the climate impact of aviation emission scenarios
6

all sectors then this proportion might increase towards the Paris agreement including COVID-19 effects. Nat. Commun.
significantly5. 12, 3841, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24091-y, 2021.
020 Fly the Green Deal

THE VISION : VIEW

OF AVIATION 2050
By 2050, Europe’s world-leading entire trip. Customised choices for passengers and
research and innovation has delivered freight are offered based on individual preferences
advancements in zero emission and clean including, for example, environmental impact,
energy sources that means all European modal mix, facility levels, quality of
journeys are climate neutral. Local service, on-board comfort, journey time,
air quality is assured. Noise and other special needs, optional rescheduling, price
nuisance impacts are minimal. and journey monitoring.

Since all external costs of all modes of transport

Specifically for aviation, technological and are taken into account, the traveller and the
operational advances and, crucially, the secure freight forwarder can make an informed selection
supply of energy and green aviation fuels have of their preferred option based on the context of
enabled climate neutrality. All of mobility’s other their mobility need.
external costs, such as land use, infrastructure
investment, maintenance, decommissioning and
recycling costs, and noise, are internalised and
passed on to the end- user. This focuses consumer
choice, creating a true level playing field for the
optimisation of mobility services to the benefit of
the passenger, customer and society as a whole. The skies are populated by a wide,
The overall mobility system is resilient to changing diverse mix of vehicles operating
circumstances. safely, securely, resiliently and
efficiently in and across common
The increasingly diverse elements of air transport blocks of airspace, airports and
– advanced air mobility (AAM), regional and vertiports. These vehicles include:
short- to medium-flights, and, possibly, sub-
orbital transport – are fully-integrated, indivisible • next-generation small, regional and
components of the continental-scale, sustainable, short-medium aircraft (comprising 75%
socially inclusive and customer- centric European of the fleet);
MaaS system. This system is a truly intermodal • large transport aircraft in configurations
mobility system-of- systems, including high speed best-suited to the task;
and conventional rail, buses, autonomous cars and • executive and business aircraft;
other emerging concepts. MaaS takes travellers • advanced vertical air vehicles of all
and their baggage, and freight and cargo, from types;
door-to-door, sustainably, safely, securely, • recreational flying vehicles;
affordably, quickly, smoothly, seamlessly, • high altitude platform systems (HAPS);
predictably, without interruption and and
on-time. In case of disruption, journeys are • unmanned aerial systems (UAS)
automatically reconfigured to minimise impact including remotely controlled, highly
to the traveller. Seamless door-to-door travel automated and autonomous aircraft.
is the norm with one digital ticket covering the
 Fly the Green Deal 021

In the urban environment. In addition to HAPS energy requirements. They are expandable and
and UAS, a proportion of the other vehicles reconfigurable to accommodate new concepts as
are pilotless and some are highly automated, they emerge. Traditional hub airports remain and
demanding new forms of traffic management. operate at high utilisation levels. Urban ground
Despite the wide spectrum of vehicles, the nodes are integrated into the built environment,
vast majority of passengers are still carried on which has been re-designed to include and exploit
commercial air transport services. the third dimension.

These vehicles are powered by a range of fully Smaller, regional and secondary ground nodes
sustainable fuels and energy sources. During serve remote and rural areas.
the transition, sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs)
were the alternative to kerosene for long flights Aviation is fully integrated into the broader energy
while electricity and hydrogen were developed sector ensuring affordability and availability of
as longer-term solutions. Electric aircraft were fuels and energy security. The ground nodes
used earlier for short flights. Ultra-quiet aircraft provide the energy infrastructure to support all
enable operations throughout the night and also types of propulsion systems used by aircraft and
eliminate nuisance during the day. land vehicles. This includes recharging stations
and battery exchange for all electric vehicles and
Air vehicles are operated by a mix of operators, support for other new types of vehicle propulsion,
evolved from those in business in 2022, including such as refuelling or tank exchange for hydrogen.
those from general aviation and non-aviation Secure networks of online sensors monitor and
sectors. The operators’ business models have collect data on the air transport system and
evolved to enable seamless, coordinated journeys the environment, including pollution, contrails,
and some operators provide complete end-to-end noise, weather, vehicle status, congestion, health,
mobility solutions. Supporting markets, such as including the emergence of pandemics. There
insurance and financial services, have evolved is also a global safety and security system to
to enable the operation of new air vehicles and predict safety and security threats, manage risks
facilitate new entrant operators. as they emerge and recover from disruption
caused by, for example, factors such as disease,
All air vehicles have access to optimised ground climate change, volcanic eruptions and
infrastructure, comprising an integrated network solar storms that affect electronic equipment.
of sustainable and highly efficient airports of all Highly resilient networks also provide global
sizes, vertiports and heliports. Collectively these communications, navigation and surveillance
are called ground nodes. They connect seamlessly services. These are built of systems-of-systems,
and securely with each other and with other spanning ground, air and space.
transport modes. These ground nodes enable The Single European Sky (SES) has been fully
simple, convenient, coordinated, safe and implemented by 2030. SESAR and its successor
secure intermodal connections optimised programmes have ensured global air traffic
for passenger experience. They have been management (ATM) has delivered safety, capacity
designed for and provide services that support and flexibility to meet increasing, volatile and
all forms of aerial mobility, types of vehicle and diverse demand in the air and on the ground.
022 Fly the Green Deal

The overall air transport infrastructure, coupled Research and innovation (R&I) is well-funded,
with new ATM processes, the sensor network and highly efficient and effective. It is built on enabling
aircraft concepts allow climate-optimised routing. instruments that incentivise collaboration and
Ultra-efficient airspace and airport operations partnerships, including public and private sectors,
maximise capacity utilisation. On the rare industry and universities. R&I is supported
occasions that they occur, delays are mitigated by by state-of-the-art facilities, test- beds,
system-wide situational awareness. demonstrators and processes

Europe drives ATM – technology, procedures,

charging mechanisms – on the global scale
resulting in a highly efficient global system.
Automation has changed the roles of both
the pilot and the air traffic controller (ATCO)
from active operational control to strategic
management and hands-off supervision.
 Fly the Green Deal 023

OVERARCHING GOALS
Achieving climate neutral aviation The precautionary principle calls for rapid action
to reduce those emissions, taking into account
Protecting the environment is of the utmost the remaining uncertainties, specifically in non-
importance for all sectors. Particular focus is on CO2 impacts, as part of a risk-based impact
aviation due to the likely future traffic growth assessment ensuring confidence in robust
and its uniquely high visibility compared to most mitigation gains.
other sectors. A fundamental objective for ACARE Concerning CO2 emissions, earlier work by
is to deliver, by 2050, a fully climate neutral the Destination 20509 team in Europe and
air mobility system, meaning that from 2050, the international Air Transport Action Group10
emissions do not add to climate change. (ATAG) have both laid out routes to net-zero CO2
The route to achieving a climate neutral air emissions by 2050. Both rely on a combination of
mobility system is built on the starting principle mechanisms that change in impact over time.
of net-zero7 emissions. A net-zero emissions ACARE recognises that the flow of objectives
balance will be achieved when the amount of from climate neutral to net-zero greenhouse gas
greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere emissions to net-zero CO2 needs to be coherently
is neutralised8. Continued action now on all expressed, assessed and confirmed. This new
emissions is essential to assist in accelerating Vision is a mechanism to support this journey to
the reduction of long-lived CO2 but also the this crucial understanding, providing intermediate
consequences of removing the warming impact detailed and quantitative goals in 2030 and 2035
of non-CO2 impacts that can have benefit in much to define the path to the end-goal in 2050.
shorter timescales e.g. within a given year.
7
Net Zero: resulting in neith11 pter a surplus nor a deficit of something
Since the publication of FlightPath 2050 there specified when gains and losses are added together3. https://www.
have been considerable strides in understanding merriam- webster.com/dictionary/net-zero
8
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/5-facts-eu- climate-neutrality/
both carbon and non-carbon emissions and how, 9
https://www.destination2050.eu/
through atmospheric processes, they cause effects https://aviationbenefits.org/environmental- efficiency/climate-action/
10 

waypoint-2050/
on global warming over different time periods.
024 Fly the Green Deal

Complementary to other areas, such as verification of the contents of aromatic and

the impact on citizens, fuel and energy, sulphur concentrations in fossil fuel, as well as
and research and innovation, this goal their reduction, and introduction and increasing
focuses on the harmful effects arising utilisation of alternative fuels and propulsion, such
from emissions: as electricity and hydrogen. This is supported by
environmentally optimised operations and routing
• contributing to climate change, such as CO2, to ensure that energy consumed by whatever
NOx, water vapour and particulate matter means is minimised. Importantly, the air transport
(which enhance water condensation into system is fully circular and the use of energy and
contrail-cirrus); resources is efficient.

• affecting local air quality, such as unburned By 2035

hydrocarbons, NOx, SOx and particulate European aviation has prepared the opening of
emissions. the first 100 highly efficient clean air city hubs,
using hydrogen and SAF under commercially
Starting immediately, the vectors enabling climate attractive conditions thanks to regulatory
improvements will be based on, sandboxes, providing a level playing field.
e.g. continued implementation of mechanisms
putting price on pollution (e.g. EU ETS, taxation
initiatives, etc.) covering the whole climate
impact of aviation, increasing technologies for
more efficient aircraft, replacement of fossil
fuels with SAFs monitoring, reporting and
 Fly the Green Deal 025

Putting the citizen at the centre

The full transparency and internalisation of
external costs across transport modes will
enable citizens to select the best travel options,
particularly relating to avoiding emissions and
modal choice.

Complementary to mitigating its effects on

climate change, in 2050, the needs of citizens
will be one of the driving forces for the aviation
system. The objectives are:
Achieving the highest levels of customer
satisfaction, for passengers and freight;

• Minimising the negative social impact of

transport, including, for example, local air-
quality, noise, and the induced health risks;

The aviation workplace is highly safe and

secure. In addition to normal health, safety and
environmental safeguarding, specific measures
• Ensuring full engagement of citizens, in a are in place to protect workers from aviation-
socially-inclusive way, in decisions on the specific risks and hazards, including air quality and
development of the air transport system and its noise.
integration with other transport modes. Aviation’s external impact on citizens will be
understood, measured and quantified using widely
For all transport customers, both passengers and accepted, commonly-applied, science-based
freight, the focus is on improving convenience metrics and techniques.
through informed choice, balancing factors such The development of aviation and the broader
as quality of service, journey time and price, transport system and its components will use the
as well as other special needs. Passengers are impact metrics to monitor and reduce external
offered choices on comfort, entertainment and impacts continuously. These external impacts will
uninterrupted access to global high- speed be quantified as costs that are fully internalised
personal communication and internet services. in a transparent and unbiased way across all
Passenger rights, covering service levels, privacy transport modes. The rights of citizens will be
and data protection, are protected through protected in a uniform legal framework that
a uniform legal framework that is applied ensures that the transport system is developed in
consistently across all transport modes. a balanced way to the benefit of all.
026 Fly the Green Deal

Aviation will continue to contribute, By 2035

proportionately, to overarching societal goals. European passengers are enjoying the
Aerial applications enabled by new flight most efficient and convenient worldwide air
technologies include, for example: climate mobility service network comprising the 100
monitoring; emergency medical services; search most seamlessly interconnected end-to-end
and rescue (SAR); high altitude platform systems destinations. They are enthusiastically embracing
(HAPS) for multiple applications; inspection, the transformation to a new era of silent and
surveying; communications and many others. clean integrated air mobility.
Aviation will make increasing contributions to
economic development, prosperity and social
well-being, specifically within the EU but also Improving global leadership and
globally. As today, it will support the integration competitiveness
and cohesion of the EU, its neighbours and
partners. The European aviation industry will By 2050, the innovative, sustainable and highly
be non-discriminatory and continue to develop, competitive European aviation sector will have
taking into account the climate prerogative, to confirmed its place as the world leader. It will be
be truly representative of European society and recognised globally for its vehicles; propulsion;
demographics. services of all kinds, including ATM, maintenance,
repair and overhaul (MRO) and ground handling;
The safety and security of the European and a large range of highly competitive, very
air transport system will increase enabling cost effective and fully sustainable products. The
deployment and operation of new and disruptive European aviation industry will be self-sufficient
technologies, operations and business models. without any strategic external dependencies and
The aviation system and supply chain will be has a secure, market-driven and competitive
resilient against internal and external threats, supply- chain.
including health, natural disasters, terrorism and
criminal activity.
 Fly the Green Deal 027

Europe’s leading position in aviation needs to be researchers, innovators and educators;

supported by an optimised and harmonised policy manufacturers; and operators and service
framework, incentivising instruments and funding providers. The seamless European innovation
mechanisms. process will assure rapid and continuous
The European aviation sector will be organised progression from initial concept from research,
to ensure aligned thinking and full cooperation development, and demonstration, through to
between all actors including European and deployment and operation for all products and
Member State governments and regulators; services.

This process will be supported

by enabling instruments and
governance structures and
processes, from today’s Important
Projects of Common European
Interest (IPCEI) through to large-
scale living labs, demonstrators
and prototypes.
028 Fly the Green Deal

Capabilities and jobs will be supported by high By 2035

profile, strategic flagship programmes and Europe will be recognised as leading the world
projects that span the entire innovation process rankings across the top 100 most advanced, best
through to production and operation. performing and competitive organisations of the
European aviation, directly and through spin-offs, whole aviation sector and its value chain.
will continue to make a significant contribution European citizens will benefit from the doubling
to and support the economic success of other, of highly valuable new jobs in aviation research,
related sectors including space, automotive, product development, and manufacturing and
maritime, emergency response, defence, security operational services.
and tourism.
 Fly the Green Deal 029

ACTORS
AND ACTIONS :
AVIATION PILL ARS
Aviation in the European mobility system
In 2050, the transport system has evolved from a
mode-centric system to full customer- centricity for both
passengers and freight. Air transport is integrated into a
secure, socially inclusive and customer-centric European
MaaS system. This enables passengers and freight to
transfer seamlessly between transport modes to reach the
final destination quickly, smoothly, predictably, on time and
without interruption. Processes for passengers and freight,
such as safety and security, are non-intrusive and do not
disrupt the smooth flow of the journey. Aviation plays a
major role in the MaaS systems as a highly sustainable
mode of transport. While the speed of flight might even
decrease for environmental reasons, there is a significant
reduction of process times and increase in predictability
across all modes, resulting in only a very low risk of
disruption for door-to-door journeys. Consistent door-to-
door oriented passenger rights are applied with guaranteed
journey reconfiguration if contracted services cannot be
met irrespective of mode.
The friction points for transferring between different modes
of transport have been removed. Connectivity benefits from
advanced urban and regional air mobility concepts, which
are fully integrated into the European transport system.

The relationship between the system and the passenger

has evolved. The guiding principle is total passenger
satisfaction without impact on or nuisance to non-
travellers. Customised mobility choices are offered based
on individual preferences - e.g. regarding travel context,
facility levels, quality of service, on-board comfort, journey
time, special needs, optional rescheduling, price - and
journey monitoring.
Since all external costs of all modes of transport are
internalised and information is available covering all
aspects of the journey, an unbiased selection of mobility
options is possible.
030 Fly the Green Deal

Vehicles and propulsion

2050 the Europe fleet contains
the highest proportion of
sustainable air vehicles in the
world. These vehicles are highly
efficient aerodynamically, with
very low drag, for reduced
energy consumption and
lower noise impact compared
to 2020. They are designed
and built to withstand more
extreme weather conditions
and are enabled by advanced
materials and structures, are
lighter weight, and can adapt to
different conditions, for example
to enable climate-optimised
routing.

The ambition is to base

propulsion on the use of
100% pure SAFs following the Aircraft architectures have become more complex, due to integration
principles of ReFuelEU Aviation, of propulsion units into the airframe, although maintenance
and hydrogen, using advanced and upgrade are simplified using new concepts, products and
novel gas-turbine concepts. processes. Energy sources and the associated control systems
Propulsion is also provided by are also integrated into the vehicle. Compared to 2020, there
electricity supplied by batteries will be various and diverse vehicles depending on transport
and fuel cells, where possible, requirements, propulsion system and energy. This will affect not only
as standalone or hybrid-electric the architecture of the vehicles but the architecture of the whole
systems. aviation system including ground infrastructure and ATM.
 Fly the Green Deal 031

Within the vehicle, the enhanced and personalised been developed and established to quantify the
comfort of the passenger is assured. The environmental impact of products and services
cabin environment is controlled and optimised built on international standards.
intelligent systems – vibration, motion and Like design and production, maintenance, repair
noise cancelling, and temperature, air quality and overhaul (MRO) is predictive, is supported by
and humidity control systems. These systems. real-time system and structural health monitoring
along with optimised ergonomic design, also using sensors integrated within the vehicle and is
monitor and ensure the health and well-being of globally standardised.
passengers and flight crews. The passenger is also
provided with continuous and reliable high-speed Modelling and quantification of the environmental
connectivity and automated cabin service. Inflight impacts of the materials and energy, emissions,
entertainment uses virtual and augmented reality and waste streams associated with a product
and immersive technologies. throughout its life cycle is enabled by integrating
pre-design, design, development, production,
Through-life sustainability is the universally operations, and maintenance using a digital data
applied design principle, based on eco-design, and flow starting from extraction of raw materials until
circularity design principles. Vehicles are designed their reuse following a fully circular approach.
bearing the entire environmental impact (in terms
of CO2eq or other more comprehensive metrics) of In addition to conventional type-approval and
the lifecycle in mind, using approaches optimised airworthiness certification, European aircraft have
for continuously improving sustainability, the least possible environmental impact over the
considering structure and component reuse, whole life cycle. Performance-based certification
remanufacture, repair and eventual end-of-life using virtual qualification and certification
aspects. To reduce costs, optimise efficiency techniques is widely applied, delivering higher
and eliminate waste, design and manufacturing efficiency and reliability than physical testing. The
processes are integrated, optimised and fully certification process is based almost exclusively
automated, end-to-end. Vehicles come with a on digital product passports and digital twins. The
digital product passport, and a digital twin that underlying data and derived digital tools used are
catalogues full-life history and predicts future freely available but secure, with data systems in
performance. New advanced aeronautical specific place to minimise the risk of fraud.
models, methods and data inventories have
032 Fly the Green Deal

Infrastructure, operations and services

In 2050, redesigned and new infrastructure, collected are fed into processing centres that
operations and services support aviation’s analyse and synthesise the inputs to produce
achievement of carbon-neutrality and meeting and publish status reports (nowcasts) and short-,
societal goals. medium- and long-term forecasts that are used
in the planning and optimisation of the entire
Airports are no longer only places that aircraft mobility system.
take-off and land but are ground nodes for
seamless interchange between transport modes.
Ground nodes range in size from large multimodal
hubs to smaller local facilities and vertiports
and heliports. There are sufficient and suitable
ground nodes to support all types of aviation,
transport and non-transport, commercial and
non-commercial. Ground nodes cater for seamless
transfer between air and other transport modes,
such as high speed and conventional rail, buses,
and autonomous cars. They are sustainable and
able to provide the energy sources required for the
propulsion systems of the day (e.g. SAF, hydrogen,
electricity) for air vehicles and other modes of
transport. Measures have been implemented to All flights are planned, to climate optimised
adapt to the impacts of climate change. 4D trajectories, using predictive algorithms to
minimise or eliminate adverse environmental
and social impact, such as CO2 and non-CO2
climate impacts (e.g. contrails) and noise. When
en-route, flights are re-planned dynamically, using
continuously updated data, to maintain climate
optimised trajectories and to avoid threats, such
as adverse weather.
Airspace is integrated at global level and is
managed to cater for the extremely high levels
of complex and heterogeneous traffic and the
increasing variability of traffic patterns, e.g.
to avoid contrail generating areas. Building
on SESAR, the outcomes of which are fully
operational, traditional ATM has evolved to
There is a global weather and environment encompass and support all types of airspace user,
monitoring network based on the secure from U-space management through conventional
integration of multiple sensors, on the ground, civil and military operations to the very edge
on air, sea and land vehicles themselves, in the of space. U-space management optimises
stratosphere and space-based. These sensors strategic and tactical plans as well as dynamically
monitor and collect data on the transport network managing operations to ensure safety, security
and the environment, including pollution, contrails, and efficiency. It caters for the complex,
noise, weather, vehicle status, congestion, health, asymmetrical and heterogeneous mix of vehicles.
and other safety and security threats, such The ATM role into a highly- optimised function
as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, Tsunamis, resulting from a partnership between humans and
extreme weather events and conflicts. The data high levels of automation.
 Fly the Green Deal 033

Aircraft on-board systems cater for applications systems collect, integrate and fuse data collected
such as 4D navigation, situational awareness, by the vehicle’s own sensors as well as satellite-
self-separation of traffic, traffic prediction, collision based and terrestrial navigation (exploiting multi-
alerting and avoidance, all weather approach constellation GNSS), surveillance and weather
and landing, and automatic flight control. These systems.

Aviation in the European energy and fuels system

The EU’s energy transition –
eliminating the use of fossil
fuels is a complex challenge
related to almost all aspects of
society. Aviation represents only
a part of the EU energy demand
and this has to be placed in the
bigger picture carefully weighing
effects of measures within
all sectors to get the swiftest
transition possible. ACARE
represents aviation and ensures
that aviation needs are reflected
in the larger energy transition
that is only possible through a
concerted effort by all fuel users.
By 2050, choices and priorities
have been set and this transition
has been completed.
034 Fly the Green Deal

Aviation is fully integrated in the European energy Selection of energy sources and
and fuels system to assure the energy supply, fuels are optimised to the type of
both in terms of capacity and energy security, aircraft and its operations at the
and benefit from the economies that come from design stage. The technologies and
large-scale, climate neutral electricity generation, fuels that are used will include but
fuel and battery production. The generation of might not be limited to:
all electricity used directly or indirectly for aircraft
propulsion is renewable, and the processes used • Bio and power-to-liquid (PtL) SAF,
to manufacture synthetic fuels and hydrogen are blended or 100% pure, using novel
climate neutral. gas-turbine concepts;
The raw materials used to manufacture batteries • Sustainable hydrogen, also using novel
and fuel cells are extracted sustainably and gas-turbine concepts;
ethically and are 100% re-used or recycled at • Full electric, using hydrogen fuel cells
the end-of-life. Bio-fuels are produced ethically, and/or advanced batteries;
meeting the relevant sustainability criteria • Hybrid-electric, either SAF or hydrogen.
defined, for example by the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Roundtable
on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB).

The detailed quantitative goals for

the aviation pillars are listed in
annex B.
 Fly the Green Deal 035

ACTORS
AND ACTIONS :
ENABLERS
Education, training and research
Excellent, world-leading research is critical to European universities work actively together,
realising the Vision. In 2050, Europe’s aviation integrated in a well-structured network, offering
industry continues to be underpinned by world- harmonised, up-to-date and relevant curricula,
class capabilities and facilities in education, facilitating frequent and fluent mobility of
training and research. There are strong links to, students and staff, sharing best practices in
extensive cooperation and knowledge sharing education and supporting the consolidation
with other related sectors, particularly relating to of a European aviation workforce. Currently
energy and digitalisation. aeronautical engineering, and in general
Europe’s students in aviation subjects perform aviation- related educational programmes include
highly. University courses are academically transverse elements relevant to the European
challenging and support the evolving needs of aviation research policy and regulatory framework
industry and research. Courses are both theoretical (e.g. climate neutrality, circular economy, clean
and practical, making use of complementary energy options, digitalisation). Where this is
research facilities, such as living labs and digital not yet the case, aviation-related educational
twins. The aviation community engages actively programmes should fully integrate education on
with European students from the earliest age and sustainability, and specifically on the impacts of
is committed to lifelong learning and continuous the sector on climate change, on equal footing
education thus promoting interest in the sector with classic core subjects studied in aeronautics
and stimulating innovation. Educational policies as materials sciences, fluid dynamics, structural
across the EU motivate students to pursue further analysis, propulsion, aircraft performance and
studies in science, technology and mathematics structures, etc. Universities contribute by means of
to ensure a steady supply of talent for a first class their educational programmes and dissemination
work force. activities to the communication of the benefits
of European aviation. Lifelong and continuous
education is the norm for all workers, facilitated
by partnerships between industry, universities and
training organisations.
036 Fly the Green Deal

Aviation research is well-funded and is Research and innovation are characterised

multisectoral and multidisciplinary. There are by pan-European coordination, supported by
strong links between research and industry with collaboration platforms and methodologies based
seamless handover of concepts as they pass on the cornerstone of a universally applied and
along the research-development-demonstration- high-performance innovation framework. Full
prototype-commercialisation process. There digitalisation and common agreements on the
are new, novel, efficient and effective ways of handling of intellectual property enables free
funding the progression of technologies along the sharing of research methods, the associated data
maturation process that ensure that beneficial and models, and outcomes underpinned by an
technologies are deployed as quickly as possible. open science framework.
Europe has the world’s leading aviation research
organisations and infrastructure covering the
entire aviation system from ground or component
test facilities through simulations to test aircraft.
All stakeholders have collaboratively defined the
infrastructure capabilities.
Facilities are organised as research clusters
networked across Europe to facilitate and secure
the regional and EU-wide collaboration of industry,
universities and national research organisations.
The key research enablers of high-performance
computing and communication networks are
available at low cost, allowing an extensive use
of automation and real time computing, and the
fusion of huge volumes of data.
 Fly the Green Deal 037

Digital transformation
Digital transformation is a key enabler for the • new ways of smart testing and certification,
future of aviation, its sustainability and its linking numerical and experimental high- fidelity
integration in the European MaaS system. This methods to access the full design space for the
requires issues such as data structure, data various vehicles and propulsion systems;
rights and data protection to be addressed.
Shared-information platforms and new IT tools • integrated design, development, manufacturing,
and services will facilitate data exchange and test, certification and MRO (including digital
decision making at all stages of the lifecycle, from design, manufacturing, predictive maintenance
research using open science frameworks, through and services), which are all highly automated,
to tactical and operational optimisation. They will based on AI and robotics. Wide use of digital
support optimised and interconnected services, twins and augmented reality helps engineers
providing real-time information to professionals to conceive and design cutting edge solutions
and the travelling public, and enhancing system quickly. Collaborative tools help in sharing
resilience in the event of disruption and crisis. experience and solutions;
AI-based tools will enable optimised mobility
offerings and travel options, especially in cases
of disruption, allowing the system to remain
operational at acceptably high-performance
levels.

Examples of applications where digital and

smart tools applied are too numerous to
list comprehensively but include:

• globally accepted tools for modelling the

atmosphere and its impact on mobility,
supported by reliable data;
038 Fly the Green Deal

• planning, managing and operating the fully • aircraft on-board systems for applications such
integrated, global, multimodal transport as 4D navigation (applied to all types of flight
infrastructure, including system wide from low altitude to sub-orbital), situational
information management (SWIM) based on awareness, self-separation of traffic, traffic
system wide big data and allowing for GDPR- prediction, collision alerting and avoidance, all
compliant exchange of journey and customer- weather approach and landing, and automatic
mobility context data; flight control. For crewed aircraft, systems
monitor crew workload and provide decision
• planning and managing concurrent global door- support whereas they are fully in control of
to-door journeys, utilising intelligence available autonomous air vehicles;
from historical, real-time and forecast system-
wide (big) data and the outputs from highly • safety risk-based assessment and mitigation
accurate and reliable weather models and at strategic and operational levels, including,
individually climate-optimised 4D trajectories; for example, new operations such as VTOL and
suborbital flight, and in highly complex and
• weather prediction and alerting tools at micro, congested traffic areas;
meso and macro scales ranging from prediction
of wind flows around buildings for safe AAM, • digital twins and associated digital threads as
through windshear, thunder, fog and sandstorm key enablers for design, validation, certification,
events, to jet stream and high-altitude winds; manufacturing and maintenance, repair and
overhaul (MRO) for the air transport system-of-
systems in its entirety, its component systems,
vehicles, products and components.
 Fly the Green Deal 039

Development, demonstration and deployment

Achievement of the Vision depends on developing, • test facilities for propulsion systems and
demonstrating and deploying the outputs of propulsion system integration;
research as quickly and efficiently as possible
to fulfil the needs of passengers, operators • gaseous and liquid hydrogen combustion
and society as a whole. Comprehensive and chambers and combustors;
consolidated test, demonstration and validation
infrastructures speed up the development process • tools for the standardisation and measurement
and increase the success rate from research to of SAF composition, e.g. relating to aromatics;
full operation. The supporting infrastructures
are harmonised, interoperable, available and • ground test rigs, e.g. for hydrogen engines and
coordinated for collaborative use across Europe. safety testing of new batteries;
For aeronautics, they include modelling, fast- and
real-time simulations, test rigs of all kinds, flight- • flight demonstrators, for aircraft, engines, power
trial systems and platforms for demonstration systems and integration;
used to test and evaluate new technologies
and concept demonstration planes (D-planes). • physical and digital wind tunnels, system and
Similar capabilities are available for the other structure test rigs;
components of the air transport system, including
air traffic management, ground nodes and their • full-size virtual or simulated urban environment
integration into the overall mobility system. Large settings to assess the impact of air vehicles in
scale tools, such as living labs, are applied across urban settings;
the aviation system.
Supported by substantive plans, addressing
regulation and incentivisation, development and
demonstration, and investment, aviation has
secured an accelerated and highly effective path
to deployment at industrial scale.

Supporting capabilities include:

• high performance computing platforms and

very high-speed digital networks, supporting
multi-disciplinary design tools, optimisation
methods, simulations and test-beds for all
different vehicle and propulsion technologies, • modelling and simulation tools for the impact of
their integration and optimisation; aviation nuisances on the population.

These capabilities are supported and enabled by

the creation of the appropriate pan- European
body to coordinate and sponsor aviation research,
development and demonstration to ensure the
technologies can be developed rapidly from initial
concept through to full operation, overcoming the
barriers that traditionally occur in the research-
development-deployment path.
040 Fly the Green Deal

Safety, security and resilience

Safety remains as the foundation stone of

aviation and, in the integrated mobility system,
the other transport modes now achieve the
same safety standards, based on a single,
transport- wide vision for safety. In addition
to the traditional concerns of safety, such as
accidents and incidents, the scope has increased
to encompass health. The safety and ethical
challenges associated with autonomy; increased
automation; artificial intelligence (AI) and
AI-human partnerships; distributed systems-of-
systems; the human-machine interface; and the
changing role of the human – pilots and air traffic
controllers – in the system have been solved.
Other research priorities have been addressed,
including multi-factor risk-modelling, the future
aviation workforce, new ways of organising air
traffic services (ATS), climate effects and the
survivability of aircraft. Virtual techniques, based
on digital twins, replace physical tests enabling
virtual certification to improved levels of safety
and security.

Security also remains a priority and has

broadened in scope from mainly physical
security to include cyber and supply chain
(physical, software and hardware) security. The
evolution of vehicles, new technologies, highly
interconnected complex systems and services
and new supply chains potentially creates new
security vulnerabilities, increasing the attack
surface available to malicious actors (internal
and external). These vulnerabilities have been
addressed using a holistic approach addressing
physical infrastructure, people, processes and As with safety, security standards and processes
technology including cyber security). Security have been harmonised across the individual
is designed into the system-of-systems from transport modes to achieve an even higher
early in the development life-cycle and an level of security across the integrated transport
embedded security culture ensures that security is system, facilitated by data exchange. To remain
maintained through deployment, operations and ahead of ever-evolving threats, there is continued
decommissioning. Other issues have also been investment in physical (person and property)
solved, including personal and data privacy and security as well as cyber and data security.
associated legal issues; and biological threats. Standards are continuously updated.
 Fly the Green Deal 041

The quantitative goals for enablers

are listed in annex C

The European transport safety and security Resilience is the capability to anticipate,
systems remain underpinned by strong, equitable mitigate and recover from disruptive
and globally harmonised regulation, further events, including:operational resilience,
optimised accounting for and making use of
disruptive digital technologies. In cooperation • which is achieved by the transport system being
with international partners within the global capable of automatically and dynamically
ICAO framework, Europe has led the way to the reconfiguring a journey, including transfers to
development of this regulatory system. other modes, to continue meeting the needs of
the traveller
• industrial or supply chain resilience;
• business resilience;
• societal resilience.
042 Fly the Green Deal

POLICY
FRAMEWORK
Instruments
In 2050 the aviation policy framework has • By 2025 based on this Vision, the European
developed to support the transformation from the aviation sector has established a single,
Era of Growth via the Era of Transformation to independent, open-access, non-partisan
the era of seamless integrated agile accelerator organisation to represent all stakeholders,
of policy, research and innovation. A range to develop and implement a common,
of different interacting and complementary coordinated strategy and support aviation
instruments – regulations, standards and policy development encompassing research,
incentives – have been developed and applied development, demonstration, deployment
to enable, support and accelerate the changes and operations. This organisation has legal
needed to realise the Vision. personality and is appropriately funded and
staffed to provide a single point of advice
The European aviation policy framework has a and guidance to the entire EC, covering all
sharp focus on mobility and strongly supports the Directorates, on all aviation matters, including
associated research and innovation. It promotes research and innovation and beyond;
and enables coherence, alignment and integration
with other related and critical areas, such as • An appropriate and proportionate European
energy. Green Deal legislative and non-legislative governance and institutional structure is
acts and Fit for 55 cover and lead to further in place established using the instruments
exploring clean energy options, sustainable available to the EC. This structure steers, guides
aviation fuels, fuel quality optimisation, taxation, and coordinates aviation research, innovation,
climate neutrality, circular economy, revision development, demonstration and ensures
of the EU ETS and associated implementation accelerated deployment to secure societal,
of the Carbon and Offsetting and Reduction ecological and economic impact. It evolves in
Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), line with developments affecting the aviation
digital transformation, intellectual property rights sector both from within and externally, e.g.
(IPR), personal data and privacy rights, foreign facilitating integration with other transport
direct investment, green bonds and taxonomy. modes and with the energy sector. It is a
The EU has built strong links with international platform to coordinate, activities across the
partners and plays a leading role in international EU, Member States, third countries, stakeholder
organisations, such as ICAO, to ensure that the associations of all types, universities and
global aviation system is fully sustainable and research centres, manufacturers, operators and
that its governance creates a truly level playing service providers. It is also the custodian of the
field. This policy framework is implemented roadmap for the realisation of this Vision and
through a comprehensive set of phased, the customer for, major pan-European projects
synchronised and dedicated instruments providing and works closely with existing Agencies, such
guidance and enabling the stakeholders to work as the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and
together with the EC, Member States and third- Eurocontrol, to enable the timely evolution to
country partners to realise this aviation Vision. the future aviation system;
 Fly the Green Deal 043

• Coordination mechanisms are applied to deliver • Incentives and enablers are applied, ensuring
efficiency, economies of scale and synergies the development, demonstration, deployment
between EU aviation research and innovation, and exploitation of the concepts developed
national-regional aviation initiative, research through research;
and innovation in other related sectors and
other EU level programmes; • Funding and financing mechanisms, compliant
with competition rules, facilitate the product
• A framework is established comprising cycle from research through development to
regulations, rules and guidance, specifying deployment.
targets. This framework includes an overarching
Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda • Between 2022 and 2050 Europe has developed
(SRIA), taking input from individual SRIAs from and applied the most efficient policy, regulation,
European partnership. This overarching SRIA and incentivisation framework that has enabled
includes a detailed and phased roadmap for and driven the most effective transition towards
the realisation of this Vision and the means for climate neutral aviation as well as aviation’s
measuring progress towards its goals; integration into the European MaaS system.

• To support progress along the roadmap, tools

are set up, e.g. the Alliance for Zero- Emissions
Aviation, IPCEI are defined, other lighthouse
projects are identified and funded, D-plane
demonstrators are provided and living labs are
established;

• Cross-border regulatory sand-boxes are used for

the assessment and validation and acceleration Policy actions and incentives are
of innovative solutions that are outside the listed in annex D.
scope of existing regulation;
044 Fly the Green Deal

Measuring and monitoring impacts

The measuring and monitoring process gives a
By 2025, taking advantage of synergies with holistic picture of progress towards realisation of
existing mechanisms, such as the EASA European the Vision and the Destination 2050 Roadmap.
Aviation Environmental Report (EAER), a Progress is monitored regularly by comparing
comprehensive and uniform set of quantitative, the value of each metric with pre-agreed targets
widely agreed measures, comprising metrics and defined as waypoints in aviation’s roadmap and
key performance indicators based on agreed specific milestones at the intermediate points in
models and available sensor data, has been 2030 and 2035 where this Vision has specific
established to assess, through a standard single goals.
score, progress towards meeting aviation’s
goals. These metrics cover the three main areas An evaluation of the status in the year 2022 is
highlighted in this Vision: achieving climate neutral performed for all goals on the agreed metrics.
mobility, putting the citizen at the centre, and The results of the impact monitoring process are
improving global leadership and competitiveness. used as feedback, quantified through the single
The measures are initially adopted in Europe and, score the contribution of the new vehicles joining
more gradually, accepted world-wide. A similar the fleet, to refine and prioritise activities in a
approach is applied in the other components continuous improvement process.
of the mobility system, including rail, maritime
and other land transport, enabling a common Responsibility for and ownership of the measuring
approach across the MaaS system. and monitoring process, its data and results
are defined by the EC in an appropriate legal
In parallel, also by 2025, an impact assessment instrument. Operational responsibility is allocated
process is established including data collection, to an appropriate body, either an existing
analysis methods, reporting and feedback. This organisation such as EASA or Eurocontrol, or a
process is based on good scientific understanding new construct with responsibility for the complete
and impact assessment models, particularly mobility system.
of climate, atmosphere, local air quality and
noise, which have developed sufficiently to
enable common understanding and consensus
on the greenhouse gas effects, and robust
impact assessments to be made. Models for
the assessment have been developed in ways
that any new knowledge can be included in a
straightforward way, allowing re-evaluation of
measures and previous analysis in a transparent An initial list of metrics for
way. Impact assessment if supported by a measuring and monitoring is
monitoring network is in place across Europe to provided in annex E.
capture the real-world data needed to calculate
the measures and metrics.
 Fly the Green Deal 045

The role of ACARE However, ACARE recognises that huge

challenges lay ahead and that these can
For more than 20 years ACARE addresses only be overcome by a new approach.
strategic, policy, regulatory, technical and To make the required rapid, significant
institutional issues, providing an open forum scientific and technological progress, even
for discussion and a consensus based decision- deeper collaboration is needed between
making process. As well as individual stakeholders many actors, extending well beyond the
spanning the entire aviation sector (e.g. from aviation sector to encompass, for example,
aircraft integrators and suppliers of all tiers, energy and all other transport modes. This
airlines, airports and ATM providers, other collaboration must span and integrate
service providers, research establishments all aspects of aviation from research and
and universities), it counts European aviation innovation to operations.
associations as its members. ACARE’s reach
extends beyond research and innovation and also Working closely together with the EC, EASA,
beyond the purely civil sector into the dual use Eurocontrol, representatives of Member States
civil-military domain. and the European aviation associations of all
types, ACARE is best positioned to act as the
Up to now, the role of ACARE was to: single, concerted voice across its rich European
representation that is needed to future proof
• develop visions and strategies; European aviation by turning this Vision into the
European Aviation Strategy.In addition ACARE will
• turn those strategies into reality; be able to coordinate the realisation of the Vision
and Strategy as it well positioned to oversee and
• provide strategic advice on research and secure coherence between individual initiatives
innovation; needed to deliver impact.

• facilitate mutually beneficial international To achieve this, also the ACARE structure and
cooperation; organisation needs to be aligned with the new
vision. The issues to be addressed in defining
• communicate the benefits of European Aviation. the future ACARE are the terms of reference,
the legal status of the organisation, governance,
ACARE always did all this in a balanced, unbiased budget and the tasks to be undertaken. During
and multi-directional manner and delivers huge this process, also the annex of this vision will be
value to the EC and its stakeholders. reviewed in order to match goals, stakeholders,
timescales and expectations ensuring continuous
alignment with the Green Deal in the most
efficient way.
046 Fly the Green Deal

CONCLUDING
REMARKS
The European aviation sector is a vital contributor Achieving the intermediate and, ultimately, the
to the continent’s economic and societal well- 2050 goals described in this Vision, requires
being. It provides global connectivity for travellers consistent and urgent attention to the highly
and freight, makes a massive contribution to interdependent investment chains of aviation
wealth generation, directly and indirectly and stakeholders. For example, policy and regulation
facilitates economic activity, for example by must stimulate research and innovation and
supporting tourism and inward investment. enable operators to integrate high performance
products into their operations.
However, aviation is facing serious and dynamic To be successful, European aviation must
challenges. Society expects ever improved transform itself. For this transformation to
aviation services, increased economic contribution, succeed, political support, the right administrative
decreasing environmental impact and the highest instruments and targeted, focused funding is
levels of safety and security. Technological needed.
capabilities and business models generally evolve
gradually but are occasionally disrupted by major This Vision represents the view of the future at
step changes. Other infrequent disruptive events one point in time in early 2022. The Vision’s goals
have major impacts on the aviation sector. are ambitious and based on current knowledge
and understanding. As time passes, aviation’s
It is essential to have a comprehensive and challenges will undoubtedly evolve, as will the
highly efficient and coherent response to these capabilities for addressing those challenges. To
challenges across the whole aviation value account for this dynamic landscape, updates of
chain and other contributing sectors with aligned the Vision will be needed from time-to-time.
political support. This Vision provides the first
step in meeting these challenges by painting a
picture of the desired future European aviation
system and defining detailed, quantitative goals
that need to be met for the Vision to be realised.
The numerous and extensive goals defined in
the annexes to this document for 2050 with
intermediate steps in 2030 and 2035. World-
class, efficient, timely research and innovation
must be appropriately funded and organised
at European-scale to deliver the scientific and
technological advances that aviation needs to
meet its challenges. This research and innovation
must be based on a coherent programme,
coordinated across the EU, Member States and
industry. It must also extend coherently across
transport modes and other related sectors, such
as energy.
 Fly the Green Deal 047

ANNEX A - OVERARCHING GOALS

ACHIEVING CLIMATE NEUTRAL
AIR MOBILIT Y
Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• By 2030, net CO2 emissions • By 2035 new technologies, • By 2050, net-zero CO2
from all intra-EU flights and fuels and operational emissions has been achieved
those departing the EU are procedures in service result in for all intra-EU flights and those
reduced by 55% compared to a 30% reduction in non-CO2 departing the EU;
the 1990 baseline11; climate effects of all intra-EU
• By 2050 new technologies
flights and those departing
• By 2030, non-CO2 climate and operational procedures
the EU relative to the 1990
effects are fully understood, in service result in a 90%
baseline.
managed, monitored and reduction in NOx emissions
reduction targets are set in- from all intra-EU flights and
line with the latest scientific those departing the EU relative
understanding and available to the year 200012;
mitigation solutions.
• By 2050 new technologies
and operational procedures
in service result in a 90%
reduction in non-volatile
particulate matter (nvPM)
emissions from all intra-EU
flights and those departing the
EU relative to the year 2000;
• By 2050 new technologies
and operational procedures
in service result in a 90%
reduction in warming contrail
cirrus relative to the 2000
baseline;
• By 2050 new technologies,
fuels and operational
procedures reduce the climate
impact of CO2 and non-CO2
effects of all intra-EU flights
and those departing the EU by
90% relative to the year 2000.
11
Derived from European “Fit for 55”
12
Derived from FlightPath2050
048 Fly the Green Deal

PUTTING THE CITIZEN AT THE CENTRE

Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• A single framework is in place • A policy framework is • 90% of travellers within Europe
to protect travellers’ rights in established and applied, are able to complete their
a consistent way across all comprising metrics and journey in less than four hours;
transport modes; calculation techniques for
• 90% of freight within Europe is
predicting, measuring and
• By 2030, European citizens are able to complete the journey,
setting standards for the
able to make informed mobility seamlessly, in less than four
health, social, environmental,
choices and have affordable hours;
climate and other impacts of
access to sustainable, reliable,
air transport, such as noise and • Air transport is an integrated
resilient, equitable, flexible,
local air quality, and enforcing component of the overall
customer-centric and seamless
compliance; mobility system that is
connectivity both as passengers
resilient to and automatically
and for freight. Mobility • By 2035 land use management
reconfigurable against
choices are contextualised principles are applied for each
disruptive events so that the
and personalised taking into airport region in Europe such
traveller or cargo has a 95%
account environmental impact that, relative to 2019 baseline,
probability of completing the
and customers’ individual there is no population increase
journey on-time;
preferences and requirements; within Lnight=50 dB contour,
and no existing population • By 2050 technologies,
• Operational noise abatement
within Lnight=50 dB contour operational improvements and
procedures are applied such
without noise insulation noise abatement procedures
that for Continues Descent
measures and no population reduce the perceived noise
Operations (CDO), relative to
increase within Lden=65 emission of flying aircraft by
2019 baseline, there is a 50%
dB contour, and no existing 65%13 per operation relative to
of reduction of average time in
population within Lden=65 dB the 2000 baseline;
level flight by 2030 in Europe
contour without noise insulation
during night-time; • Land use management
measures in place.
principles are applied for each
• By 2030, all airports have
airport region in Europe such
carried out an assessment of
that, relative to 2019 baseline,
the best trade-off between
there is no population increase
noise exposure and emissions
within the Lden=45dB contour
reductions in order to
by 2050;
implement the most efficient
Noise Abatement Departure • Operational noise abatement
Procedure(s); procedures are applied so
that for Continues Descent
• Aviation is a desirable sector to
Operations (CDO), relative to
work in meaning that all posts
2019 baseline, there is a 90%
are filled quickly and that there
of reduction in average time in
is low turnover of employees.
level flight by 2050 in Europe;
• All external mobility costs
are internalised consistently,
equitably and transparently
across all transport modes
when designing, developing,
constructing, operating and
maintaining the integrated,
intermodal transport system.
13
A reduction of 65% equals minus 15 dB/operation
 Fly the Green Deal 049

IMPROVING GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

AND COMPETITIVENESS
Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• By 2030 technological • By 2035 Zero Emission air • By 2050, the high degree of
solutions for sustainable Zero- vehicles are starting to be competitiveness and strong
Emission vehicles have been deployed across Europe. reputation for quality and
demonstrated, and suitable sustainability means that
certification methods and European aviation products and
regulatory frameworks have services have secured a 60% of
been developed to support their respective world markets;
accelerated development and
• By 2050, compared to 2022
deployment.
there is a 30% increase in
cost competitiveness of
“Made in Europe” aviation
technology, products and
services throughout the supply
chain achieved by streamlining
systems engineering, design,
manufacturing and upgrade,
enhancing technology and
people capabilities, and
improving process efficiency;
• By 2050, there is a 50%
reduction in the cost of
certification, enabled by
enhanced digital capabilities
and new standards.
050 Fly the Green Deal

ANNEX B - GOALS FOR AVIATION PILLARS

AVIATION IN THE EUROPEAN
MOBILIT Y SYSTEM
Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• By 2030 within the EU and its • By 2035 Europe will be first • By 2050 the EU has integrated
partners, external costs are to demonstrate seamless air air mobility services seamlessly
completely understood across mobility operation with other with other transport modes
all transport modes; transport modes including across 90% of its major
integrated tickets, GDPR- airports;
• By 2030, aviation fully
compliant exchange of journey
enables citizens and freight • There is a significant reduction
information and automatic
forwarders to make informed of process times and increase
reconfiguration in case of
mobility choices on the aviation in predictability across all
disruption in greater than 50%
segment of journeys and modes, consistent door-to-door
of journeys;
have affordable access to oriented passenger rights
sustainable, reliable, resilient, • By 2035 within the EU and its irrespective of mode, as well
equitable, flexible, customer- partners, external costs are as the removal of friction
centric and seamless air completely internalised across points for transferring between
connectivity both as passengers all transport modes. different modes of transport;
and for freight. Mobility choices
• The transport system is resilient
and services are contextualised
to disruptive events and
and personalised taking into
has implemented measures
account customers’ individual
to adapt to the impacts of
preferences and requirements.
climate change. It is capable of
automatically and dynamically
reconfiguring individual journeys
within the network to meet
the needs of the traveller if
disruption occurs helping the
system to remain operational at
(acceptably) high performance
levels. Actions have been
taken to adapt the sector’s
infrastructure and operations to
impacts of climate change such
as sea level rise and higher
average temperatures. Airspace
users have full situational
awareness of the transport
system as a whole as well as
its customers’ itineraries. Flights
arrive within one minute of the
planned arrival time regardless
of weather conditions.
 Fly the Green Deal 051

VEHICLES AND PROPULSION

Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• By 2030 Europe will • By 2035, all aircraft have 100% • By 2050, 75% of the European
demonstrate the “first-of- kind” capability and over 10% make regional and short- medium
hydrogen and hybrid electric, significant regular use (around. range fleet will comprise
regional and short- and 50% of the time) of SAF in the new aircraft that started
medium-range (SMR) solutions; Europe; entering service from 2035;
• By 2030, European fleet • By 2035, overall European • By 2050, overall European
efficiency improvement and fleet fuel efficiency potential fleet fuel efficiency will have
emission reductions are improves by at least 10% over improved by between 30% and
enabled by retrofitting and 2018 levels with a stretch 50% compared to 2018 levels;
forward fitting of technologies target of 15% improvement.
• By 2050, air vehicles, their
matured under European This is enabled by the ramp
propulsion systems and the
research programmes, ACARE up of new solutions with lower
energy sources they utilise will
driven initiatives, matching fuel burn aircraft to comprise
be designed using circularity
national programmes and between 30% and 50% of the
principles, facilitated by eco-
industrial research. Together overall fleet;
design, with transparency and
with fleet replacement, this
• By 2035 Europe has introduced traceability from production,
reduces overall emissions more
the world’s first certified operation to end-of-life;
than countering the effects of
commercial hybrid-electrics and
any traffic growth; • By 2050, the European
hydrogen solutions.
aeronautical supply chain and
• All aircraft14 and engines
manufacturing sector will have
entering service after 2030
achieved net- zero greenhouse
will be certified for 100%
gas emissions across all of
non-blended SAF or other low/
Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3.
zero carbon fuels (e.g. [liquid]
The cycle time through design
hydrogen);
to certification is reduced
• By 2030, new regional and by 50% in order to meet
short-medium range aircraft aggressive time schedules.
will be defined and product
developments launched. These
aircraft will start entering
service by 2035.
14
Due to propulsion systems and fuels used General Aviation may have different timescales
052 Fly the Green Deal

INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS
AND SERVICES
Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• By 2030 air transport • All air vehicles have access • By 2050, hydrogen fuelling
operations throughout to ground infrastructure will have become standard
Europe use the most efficient optimised for their operation, with high availability to meet
generation of vehicles multimodality and passenger demand;
supported by best-in-class air experience. Coherent ground
• By 2050, airports and other
traffic management (ATM) and infrastructure has been
aviation infrastructure operate
ground operations; developed including airports,
with zero emissions.
vertiports and heliports with
• All air vehicles have access to
the relevant servicing and
optimised ground infrastructure;
connecting facilities to other
• By 2030, 30% airports and modes (incl. baggage handling
other aviation infrastructure and integrated security);
operate climate-neutral;
• An ATM system is in place that
• By 2030 operational fuel provides the required capacity
efficiency has improved and flexibility to cater for
by at least 5% compared demand. It delivers a range of
to 2018 due to optimised services to handle all types of
flight trajectories and flight vehicles (fixed-wing, rotorcraft)
operations. This includes the and systems (manned,
benefit of minimised aircraft unmanned, highly automated)
movements on-ground and that co-exist in shared airspace
reduced engine/electric taxi; and are integrated into and
interoperable with the overall
• By 2030, airports have
air transport system with 24-
plans in place to adapt
hour efficient operations of
their infrastructure to allow
airports;
operations of hydrogen aircraft
once they enter the market; • European airports, ATC and
energy production such as
• All flights are planned with the
green electricity, SAF and
ability to re-plan dynamically
Hydrogen operations will evolve
en-route, to climate optimised
to support new aircraft and
routes eliminating adverse
fuels/energy systems;
environmental and minimising
social impact, such as • The availability at all major
emissions and noise airports with sustainable fuels
increases progressively. By
2035, SAF is available for flights
departing an EU airport with a
minimum share of 20% SAF;
• By 2035, at least 100 EU
airports have become hydrogen
hubs, initially for emission
free ground transport while
preparing the infrastructure for
hydrogen-fuelled aircraft.
 Fly the Green Deal 053

AVIATION IN THE EUROPEAN

ENERGY AND FUELS SYSTEM
Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• Aviation is fully integrated with • In Europe, by 2035, 20% of • By 2050, over 80% of
the European energy and fuels conventional jet fuel is replaced conventional fuel will be
sector to ensure availability, by sustainable aviation fuel. replaced by SAF;
affordability and security of
• By 2050, sustainable hydrogen
supply;
is available as an aviation fuel
• By 2030, SAFs make up 10% at all European airports;
of all of the aviation fuel
• The energy and transport
consumed in Europe for intra-
chains are integrated within the
EU and departing flights;
mobility as a service system,
• By 2030, sustainably produced e.g. the passenger can ride on
hydrogen will be available a hydrogen powered bus to an
in key EU airports for ground hydrogen powered airport to
operations and aircraft board an hydrogen powered
demonstration; flight.
• By 2030, aromatics and sulphur
maximum contents in jet fuel
uplifted in the EU are reduced,
minimising non-CO2 impacts;
• By 2030, standards for the
composition of SAFs are
available and the means of
ensuring compliance are in
place;
• All types of refuelling – battery
charging, fuel cell exchange,
hydrogen – is available at EU
airports for ground vehicles
providing access to the airport.
054 Fly the Green Deal

ANNEX C –GOALS FOR ENABLERS

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH
Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• From 2022 onwards, as identified in the EREA • European research • Between 2035 and
7PP, links to other transport modalities and is supported 2040, the research
industrial sectors and links between national by appropriate focus includes large
programmes and EC activities are established. infrastructure, living and ultra-efficient
These links generate and secure benefits from labs and high fidelity hydrogen powered
knowledge sharing, synergies and spin-offs in digital tools that are aircraft.
both directions; also used for training.
As identified in the
• From 2025, Europe leads the world’s accelerated
EREA 7PP, oversight
innovation path for sustainable aviation;
is provided by a
• From 2025, EU aviation is attractive to start-ups European Aviation
and venture capital as disruptors/accelerators of Research Union;
innovation;
• Specialised training
• By 2025, compared to 2020 there is 30% more in the design and
effort on readying climate neutral aviation certification of new,
solutions for industrial use in science, technology innovative concepts
and education; is provided through
collaborative
• By 2030, education initiatives attract and
organisations for
educate 30% more people in aviation sector
education and training,
skills compared to 2020, creating new, high-
perhaps established a
value skills for the future European workforce,
Joint Undertakings;
accelerating development of know-how for new,
key technologies and differentiators; • By 2050, Europe is
recognised as leader
• By 2030, research programmes and public-
is sustainable aviation
private partnerships have increased the research
education, in technical
and innovation pipeline in climate neutral
and non-technical
aviation technologies by 50% compared to 2020;
areas of study and
• By 2030, Europe is the world-leading aviation research.
centre for academic and applied science in
hydrogen and SAF, passenger centricity and noise
reduction;
• By 2030 Europe is the most attractive place for
aviation research, demonstration, deployment,
conferences, and developing international policy
and implementation;
• By 2030, Europe is at the forefront of climate
impact and atmospheric research, developing a
full system understanding of CO2 and non-CO2
effects, minimising uncertainties, assessing the
impact and risks resulting from those uncertainties
and taking the lead in the formulation of a
prioritised environmental action plan and
establishment of global environmental standards.
 Fly the Green Deal 055

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• The challenges of digital • European aviation is using • All major aircraft parts are
transformation have been solved by the new EU digital back- certified largely by means of
2030, including: bone and design standards, digital certification;
- European standards for data enabling researchers, the
• All routing is based on fully
handling, sharing and access and supply chain and the OEMs
digitised 4D navigation
cyber security are in place so that all to validate via digital twins
where the system has been
actors can share the same sets of the end-to-end viability and
proven to be very resilient
data for certification, performance, impact of European Aircraft;
in case of minor and major
maintenance and end-of-life
• The first major aircraft disruptions;
purposes;
components have been
- the development of digital European • In research computing
flight-certified with the help
aviation standards as a prerequisite capacity is no longer a
of digital certification;
for efficient research collaboration limiting issue. Real time
and to virtually integrate and • Short- and medium-term simulations including
leverage the results of numerous weather forecasts make use CFD- and FEM-analyses are
disciplines and stakeholders on of a worldwide network of possible to a level such that
compatible European Zero Emission ground based and airborne both design and off-design
aircraft platforms; sensors; performance are being
- understanding the relationship predicted accurately;
• Fully GDPR-compliant
between the human and the
passenger support before, • Digitalisation has proven
machine and the associated safety
during and after a journey to bring an important
implications;
is integrated so much that contribution to the safety of
- test, validation and certification of
the average travel can be aircraft.
complex systems that show non-
considered seamless;
deterministic, emergent and learning
behaviours; • Each aircraft and its
- dissemination and sharing of components can be tracked
requirements, new rules and and monitored from design
best practices, contributing to and production throughout
standardising a digital approach their operational lives.
to leverage innovation across
European research;
- making European results and IP
recognisable and protectable;
- GDPR compliant exchange of
personal data;
- a holistic approach to security,
addressing physical infrastructure,
people, processes, and technology,
through the system life-cycle
from design through manufacture
and certification to operations,
maintenance, and decommissioning,
including all aspects of the supply
chain.
• There are no successful cyber-attacks
on aircraft and critical aviation
infrastructure.
056 Fly the Green Deal

DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION
AND DEPLOYMENT
Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• By 2030, the first-of-its-kind • Facilities and infrastructure, • Deliver the first pan-European,
hybrid-electric, short/medium such as large-scale full scale climate neutral
range solution have been demonstrators, D-planes and solutions and develop more
demonstrated; living labs are in place and efficient, larger and longer-
widely available; range solutions;
• By 2025, efficient upgrades
to 100% non-blended SAF • Demonstrate cost competitive • Deliver next generation, high
potential have been developed circular- and eco- design, efficiency 100% non- blended
and certified; manufacture and assembly SAF vehicles;
as the future of EU aircraft
• By 2025, deliver climate • Deliver the first hydrogen-
production for further
friendly air traffic routing hybrid-electric solutions.
implementation and impact;
solutions;
• Deliver a comprehensive
• Deliver latest generation
EU deployment plan for
aircraft with greater than 20%
hydrogen including assuring its
improved efficiency compared
availability, certified standards
to 2020;
for products, handling and
• Accelerate the delivery of services including maintenance,
the latest generation of repair and overhaul (MRO);
components and vehicles by
• Establish EU Flag carrying
2030;
pilot projects supported
• Demonstrate passenger-centric by pre-commercial public
aircraft, including easy access, procurement for demonstration
cabin comfort and baggage and deployment, enabled by
handling cross border/ EU regulatory
sand boxes to experiment and
• Societal acceptance of new
validate impact across Europe.
technologies (e.g. AI), vehicles
(e.g. air taxis), systems, services
and operations (e.g. supersonic
flight) is assessed and
understood.
 Fly the Green Deal 057

SAFET Y, SECURIT Y AND RESILIENCE

Timeframe
Short-term (<2030) Medium-term (<2035) Long-term (<2050)
• By 2030 the Safety Management System • Levels of safety have • Levels of safety have increased by a
(SMS) encompasses risks from diseases, increased by a factor of factor of five compared to 2020;
security threats and climate change; two compared to 2020;
• By 2050, implement intelligence
• By 2030 the SMS takes full benefit of • Safety, security and solutions in the Safety Management
operational data collected daily for all resilience are assured System (SMS) to infer prevailing
segments of the air transport, though seamlessly and to the risks in real-time and support their
validated processes, tools, solutions and same standards along mitigations with the concerned
training for end-users; the entire journey actors collaboratively;
irrespective of the
• By 2030, a close link has been established • By 2050, apply a cross-sector risk
modes used.
between aviation and international health management system to support
organisations (EMA, WHO) and, through the detection, characterisation
this, systems have been developed to and mitigation of common
help prevent future pandemics. Based on threats, cascading failure cases
scientific modelling, the aviation industry from interconnected systems and
(with other transport modes) can adapt systematic risks;
operations and networks at short notice in
• By 2050, demonstrate the
to prevent illnesses from spreading
autonomous management of air
• By 2030, apply disruptive technologies transport security (in all situations) by
such as AI, digital twins, interconnected an interconnected resilient system,
systems to develop enhanced manned- while maintaining human in the loop;
unmanned teaming for air transport
• By 2050, develop standards and
security management;
periodic exercises to check and
• By 2030, develop dedicated training adapt the air transport system
devices such as hybrid simulation tools security management to new
in order to qualify and/or certify the air threats;
transport security devices;
• By 2050, demonstrate the
• By 2030, air transport resilience has been interconnect ability of air transport
demonstrated against cyber/physical resilient Security system to outside
threats by addressing the following systems (city, national, etc.) for a
situations: global Security management at the
- Threat management: Detection of level of cities, countries or Europe;
threats and engagement of mitigation
• By 2050, the transport system
actions;
is resilient to disruptive events; it
- Attack management: reduce damages
is capable of automatically and
by protecting persons and neuralgic
dynamically reconfiguring individual
systems during the attack (cyber /
journeys within the network to meet
physical);
the needs of the traveller if disruption
- Crisis management: Engage actions to
occurs helping the system to remain
rescue persons and reconfigure the air
operational at (acceptably) high
transport system.
performance levels. Airspace users
• By 2030 Europe is the first to demonstrate
have full situational awareness of
seamless air mobility operation with other
the transport system as a whole
transport modes including integrated
as well as its customers’ itineraries.
tickets, GDPR-compliant exchange of
Flights arrive within one minute of
journey information and automatic
the planned arrival time in normal
reconfiguration in case of disruption in
conditions.
greater than 30% of journeys.
058 Fly the Green Deal

ANNEX D - POLICY ENABLERS

POLICY ENABLERS
Policy actions Incentives
• By 2025 a dedicated EU Mission supported by the appropriate • Accelerate SAF production and
governance and organisational structures, linking EU and national deployment;
programmes, is in place and leading the path towards climate neutral
• Develop and deploy liquid
aviation. Well phased and synchronised demonstrator Programmes,
hydrogen infrastructure at airports;
IPCEI & alliances are accelerating the time to market;
• Increase the delivery, diffusion
• By 2025, ACARE is reformed and is supporting the EC where
and market adoption of solutions
appropriate in input for policies including international coordination
that will reduce the environmental
and in extracting benefits for Europe;
impact of aviation (emissions,
• By 2030 Europe is recognised as the world-leading place for air, water and land quality, other
aviation product development and product innovations, thanks to the pollution and noise) and increase
continuous implementation of the most efficient funding frameworks the quality of life, in particular
and the timely classification of sustainable aviation as an IPCEI; around airports;
• By 2030 a legal framework for seamless door-to-door journeys • Increase the delivery, diffusion
is in place addressing passenger rights in a multimodal transport and market adoption of solutions
environment as well as enabling personalised travel and that will increase aviation safety
reconfiguration of journeys by exchange of contextual journey and security levels in particular
information in a GDPR-compliant way; by improved cooperation with the
EASA and deep transformation
• • By 2030 and continued throughout 2050 Europe’s collaborative
of operations with the help of
research programmes and Public Private Partnerships are proven
innovation;
catalysts that have accelerated science, technology maturation,
innovation and new product demonstrations; • Improve aviation industry image
and perception in society by
• By 2035 Europe’s lighthouse projects and regulatory cross-border
fulfilling customer and general
sand-boxes have proved, validated and certified new products,
public expectations of a globally
services and value chains across sectors and countries;
competitive and sustainable
• Regulation encourages and permits new sustainable business models European aviation industry;
for innovative aircraft technology for future aircraft and fleet retrofits
• Increase the delivery, diffusion
and exploiting next generation digitalisation/automation technologies;
and market adoption of solutions
• By 2025 regulation encourages and permits the use of Sustainable that will improve the mobility and
Aviation Fuels and Hydrogen by rewarding airlines that uptake these connectivity of European citizens
sustainable fuels; with safe, reliable, affordable and
resilient air travel options;
• Regulation encourages climate optimised routing;
• Increase the delivery, diffusion
• Direct Air Carbon Capture technologies are recognised and
and market adoption of solutions
incentivised as part of the compliance mechanism inside market
that will develop a strong circular
based measures;
economy dimension for aviation
• Spin-off opportunities are enabled to benefit European citizens by by utilising lifecycle ‘eco-design’,
exploitation of aviation in critical areas such as climate, emergency ‘biomimicry’ and ‘circularity’
response, space and security; approaches;
• Strategic partnerships with non-aviation sectors are established to • Apply penalty and incentive
make use of emerging technologies (e.g. drop-in and non-drop-in schemes to encourage
fuels, fuel cells, artificial intelligence, electronics, materials); environmentally friendly measures,
such as climate optimised routing.
• The EU has established world-wide recognised SAF and hydrogen
standards and certification processes for aviation.
 Fly the Green Deal 059

ANNEX E - EXAMPLE METRICS

METRICS FOR MEASURING IMPACT
Theme
Achieving climate neutral air Putting the citizen at the Improving global
mobility centre leadership and
competitiveness
• Greenhouse gases and other non-CO2 • Societal perception of • Market share of European
emissions that cause climate impact; aviation; aviation companies;
• Climate impact assessed on a cradle- • Access to unbiased mobility • Cost competitiveness of
to-cradle basis, considering the entire information; European aviation;
impact of the vehicle, its systems
• Connectivity and level of • Time to market for products
and energy source, including energy
integration of transport; from initial concept to
production and storage mechanisms,
certification;
not only direct emissions from the • Customer satisfaction,
aircraft; including affordability, • Time to impact - from
punctuality, comfort, choice, scientific to technical mature
• The individual components of the
flexibility and equity; technologies to deployed
cradle-to-cradle impact enabling
products and services
each to be assessed individually in in • Welfare factors including
generating impact;
combination; jobs, wealth creation and
societal well-being; • Metrics quantifying research
• Local air quality impact;
and innovation;
• Workforce facilitation,
• Impact on biodiversity.
compensation and • Metrics quantifying
satisfaction (e.g. training, education & training
compensation, working specific for aeronautics
conditions and interesting (number of students,
jobs); number of graduates,
number of faculties specific
• Noise and other nuisance
for aeronautical studies,
impacts;
percentage of students
• Safety performance; from other domains moving
towards aerospace jobs
• Security performance;
and training, number of
• Resilience; PhD theses and ratio of
implementation of that
• Interoperability;
research into products),
• Predictability. percentage of unemployed
workforce that enters
aeronautical jobs at all
levels, retention rate of
aerospace industry, quality
and quantity of training;
• Aviation’s contribution to
economic and societal
development.
060 Fly the Green Deal
 Fly the Green Deal 061

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Image credits:
Cover: ©mozZz #86319722, 2022. Source: stock.adobe.com, © TU Delft
Page 4 : © European Union #Mariya Gabriel, 2022
Page 5: © Airbus L.Borrel Jean-Brice-Dumont-Portrait-01, 2020. Source: mediacentre.airbus.com, © - Rolf Henke, 2022. Source: dlr.de, © KLM Royal
Dutch Airlines - L. Modderman Bart de Vries portrait 21, 2021. Source: KLM
Page 8-9: © Airbus # ID 518845, 2017, altiscope-hero-imageb. Source: mediacentre.airbus.com.
Page 10: © anyaberkut #1058352008, 2018. Source: gettyimages.fr
Page 11: © dan_prat # 113165635, 2009. Source: gettyimages.fr, © Airbus,2022.Source: mediacentre.airbus.com, © Rolls Royce, 2022. Source : rolls-
royce.com/media.aspx
Page 12: © DLR (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) Final Renderingbackground 300dpi5, 2022, © Airbus # ID 549244, 2021. Source: expert.mediagallery.airbus.com
Page 13: © DLR City-Future_LO7, 2021, © A3 by Airbus Vahana alpha two, 2019. Source: expert.mediagallery.airbus.com
Page 16: © Airbus - Master Films # ID 567823, 2022. Source: expert.mediagallery.airbus.com, © Airbus Defence & Space #ID 152232, 2013. Source:
expert.mediagallery.airbus.com, © H2Fly, © Onera.
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Page 24: © wasserstoffelektrolyse, 2022. Source : DLR Ernsting. © Piaggio aerospace.
Page 25: © PhotoAlto/Michele Constantini # 107907029, 2022. Source : Gettyimages.fr, © DanCardiff #89907000 E+, 2022. Source : Gettyimages.fr
Page 26: © Scharfsinn86 #1294131568,2022. Source : Gettyimages.fr, © Pascal Pigeyre - Airbus SAS - Master Films 2020. Source : expert.mediagallery.
airbus.com, © C. Moirenc - Airbus SAS,2018. Source : expert.mediagallery.airbus.com
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Europe’s aviation sector continues its resilient and pioneering spirit as it
leads the world’s transport system into its new era of great transformation.
Surviving the pandemic, it is adapting rapidly to satisfy the rising demand for
competitive air mobility services while managing a scarcity of resources and
embracing the new challenges of climate change and energy transition.

Facilitated by ACARE, the European Commission, its Member States, aviation

research organisations, design and manufacturing industries, airlines, airports,
and aviation energy and service providers have all joined together to envision
a synchronized transformation path that will ensure that Europe can lead the
world towards a climate neutral, citizen centric and competitive air mobility
system.

“Fly the Green Deal” is Europe’s Vision for Sustainable Aviation. It describes
the actions and actors necessary towards aviation’s three main strategic
goals. It details three time horizons and defines as well the requirement for
a proactive and synchronised implementation framework facilitated by the
European Commission and EU Member States that includes both the initiating
instruments (policies, regulations and incentives) and a system of measuring
and impact monitoring to ensure the goals are achieved.

Research and innovation policy