CORDIS Express: EU research takes to the skies
Air transport is the mode that has experienced the fastest growth in recent years. Global air transport is expected to grow by around 5 % annually until 2030 while in Europe, flight movements will to double by that time. That's a significant jump considering we already have some of the busiest skies in the world with as many as 33 000 flights a day. Naturally, the more we fly, the bigger the pressures we exert on the equipment, the infrastructure and on our environment. The aviation industry is a renowned polluter and one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. As air traffic increases so too does the need for greater efficiency, safety and environmental protection. Thanks to research and testing on design, materials and fuel, the industry is capable of responding to these demands. Just last month, EUROCONTROL reported that Airbus and KLM have recently completed the first of a series of 20 long-haul commercial flights using sustainable jet fuel. A KLM A330-200 aircraft took off for a ten-hour flight from Amsterdam to Aruba with a 20 % blend of sustainable fuel made of used cooking oil. Research efforts are especially vital in the context of the Single European Sky (SES), launched by the European Commission to reform the architecture of European Air Traffic Management (ATM). The initiative seeks to enable a 10 % reduction in the effects flights have on the environment and provide ATM services at a cost of at least 50 % less. Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR), the technical dimension of SES, is supporting these efforts with state-of-the-art and innovative technology. Projects funded through FP7 and Horizon 2020 are also engaged in crucial research to help improve aviation safety and efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. This edition of CORDIS Express takes a look at some of these ongoing research efforts. The age of the jet car!(opens in new window) Smart design and nanotechnology to cut aircraft operational costs(opens in new window) More efficient in-flight aircraft testing methods(opens in new window) Better fasteners safely transfer loads(opens in new window) Fast delivery of super-hard products(opens in new window) Rotating blades generate electricity(opens in new window)