News – Institute of Aviation Drive Systems

In view of the existential threat posed by climate change, there is an urgent need for action. At the World Climate Conference in Paris in 2015, it was decided that no more greenhouse gases should be released into the atmosphere in the second half of the century. The European Commission’s “Green Deal” from summer 2021 sets the goal for Europe to be the first continent to be climate-neutral by 2050. The European Commission also emphasizes that substantial investments are required to achieve this goal.

Aviation in particular is therefore forced to rethink. The aim must be to reduce pollutant emissions as much as possible in the future. This goal of “Zero Emission Aviation” (ZEMA) is pursued by research institutions from 13 different countries that have joined forces in the ZEMA Group.

Tomorrow’s air traffic will have to say goodbye to the pure growth strategy that has been pursued up to now. Concentrating on the further development of existing aircraft or engines is also viewed by the ZEMA Group as inadequate. Rather, the focus is on the development and implementation of new technologies. Sustainable, alternative fuels and energy sources will be essential to avoid combustion processes – which are always associated with emissions. The research institutions therefore undertake to use alternative energy sources for a new drive technology. In addition, they intend to work on optimal routing. Another focus is on urban mobility and electric flying. In their declaration, the research institutions have also committed themselves to always shaping the changes in accordance with social needs.
In the case of developments in electric flying, hydrogen propulsion or completely new configurations, flying demonstrators – i.e. real prototypes – could play a decisive role.