Whittle at Farnborough International’s Sustainable Skies Summit

On 17-18 April 2023, the Whittle Lab participated in several events at the Sustainable Skies World Summit, organized by Farnborough International, to highlight and support the aviation industry’s efforts to meet its net-zero commitment.

Our Whittle Lab Director, Professor Rob Miller, led a panel discussion on the role of political leadership in accelerating progress towards net zero. The panel included representatives from the European Union, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Federal Aviation Administration in the US, and the UK’s Shadow Minister for Transport.

The discussion focused on the importance of policymakers worldwide investing in alternative aviation fuels, including SAFs, hydrogen, and battery-electric, to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint, whilst also considering the energy-security implications of these innovations. The panel also discussed the implications of new short-range electric aircraft on policy, including certification challenges, regulations, air traffic controls, and more.

In a fireside chat with McKinsey’s Robin Riedel, Professor Miller stressed the importance of addressing skills gaps in the workforce and engaging young people to build an aviation sector with no climate impact if we are to truly unlock sustainable aviation.

The Whittle Lab team also showcased their tools alongside the Aviation Impact Accelerator, including the Journey Impact Simulator and Resource to Climate Comparison Evaluator, at the event. These tools help inform aviation stakeholders about the future of aviation using evidence-based tools.

International co-operation emerged as a key theme from the event. The team at Whittle believes that stronger partnerships between the industry and public policymakers worldwide are crucial to achieving net-zero aviation. The Whittle Lab team would like to thank the Sustainable Skies World Summit team and everyone who made the event a fantastic success.