Improving mobility with small planes
Today, the European small aircraft industry shows considerable innovation potential. Including a wide variety of enterprises, it has a market position of over 30 % in the global general aviation and utility aircraft market (excluding business jets and light-sport aircraft). Nonetheless, the cost of purchasing, maintaining and operating small aircraft hampers further growth in the near future. However, small air transport (SAT) could be a key enabler of regional development if it is seen as part of a multi-modal European transport system. The 'Small air transport - Roadmap' (SAT-RDMP)(opens in new window) project was launched to respond to the challenge of establishing a new mode of transport to complement the existing air transport system. Specifically, the SAT-RDMP project aimed to enhance the commercial role that small aircraft operating on scheduled or non-scheduled flights can play. To unlock the SAT potential, the project team defined a roadmap to develop the technologies needed to meet regulatory, safety, environmental, operational and economic requirements. By bringing relevant industries together, it managed to unite the European small aviation community, which proposed a set of research and technological development activities along the roadmap. Finally, the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking accepted the SAT-RDMP proposal and included SAT in the Clean Sky 2 programme. Without the SAT-RDMP initiative, it would be very unlikely that small aviation industry partners could work as closely with each other as they currently do. The concerted effort of SAT-RDMP partners has been successful in covering transport needs in regions where transport networks are underdeveloped and in spurring further regional development.
