Aeronautics proposal - ERA's first concrete step?
Members of a high level 'group of personalities' (HLGP) on aeronautics met to approve a draft document which will be presented at the forthcoming Aerodays conference in Hamburg on 29 to 31 January. Entitled 'European aeronautics: a vision for 2020: meeting social needs and having global leadership', the 23 page paper is designed to give a blueprint for research in aeronautics 15 to 20 years hence. It calls for a pooling of research funds from all sources, private sector, Commission and Member State national research programmes, and is a pioneering step. 'This is the first time that this has ever been done,' says a Commission spokesman. 'This could be seen as the first major step of the European Research Area (ERA).' In particular, the paper looks at the competitiveness of the European aeronautical industry in the global economy and air transport mobility for sustainable growth and quality of life of European citizens. The HLG is made up of 15 members, the majority of them drawn from the private sector, and is chaired by European Research Commissioner, Philippe Busquin. Research institutes, airport authorities, air traffic control organisations, major aircraft manufacturers and smaller supplier SMEs are all represented on the HLGP.