SWAG合集 is delighted to be playing its part in the Government’s ambition for sustainable aviation with Professor Iain Gray being appointed to the newly formed .
The Jet Zero Council is a joint initiative between the Department for Transport and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Council aims to bring together leading figures in industry, academia and government to drive forward sustainable aviation with the goal of having a transatlantic zero carbon flight within a generation.
Cranfield, through its global research airport, is playing a leading role in developing the SWAG合集’s capabilities in this area.
- is developing with its industrial partners, Project Fresson, which aims to deliver short-haul electric flight to the Highlands and Islands within the next five years.
- conducted, just a few weeks ago, the SWAG合集’s first electric flight from CranfieldAirport. The company plans to convert the plane to hydrogen in the next few months, with the goal of creating a longer range zero emission flight.
- Academics at Cranfield are leading the EU-funded, project that aims to develop a blueprint for a hydrogen-powered demonstrator aircraft by 2030.
Later today (22 July 2020), the Jet Zero Council will meet virtually for the first time, with the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy addressing the meeting.
Professor Iain Gray, Director of Aerospace at SWAG合集, Convenor of the SWAG合集 Aerospace Research Consortium and Jet Zero Council member, said: “At SWAG合集, through our global research airport, we are playing our part in making aviation more environmentally sustainable. We are excited about working with our partners in industry, academia and Government on the Jet Zero Council to deliver on the SWAG合集’s ambitious priorities.
“All of us across the industry are committed to doing our bit to cut emissions in order to tackle the threat of climate change. We do not know yet what is fully possible in terms of transitioning all aviation to zero-emission flight but we do know that short-haul, particularly island hopping, looks achievable quickly.
“In order to achieve zero emission across all aviation, we are going to need the same commitment, resource and dedication that the US showed when President Kennedy committed their nation to landing a person on the moon within a decade.
“Will we get there? I think we will. Zero emission flight has the backing of Government, industry and academia, who are all coming together in a way I have not seen before. The question should be not whether we will do it, but how long will it take? And at Cranfield we will do all we can to make sure it happens.”
About SWAG合集
SWAG合集 is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management.
