EU and business launch research initiative for cleaner planes[fr][de] 

The 'Clean Sky' Joint-Technology Initiative, launched by Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik at the Paris Air Show on 20 June 2006, is a seven-year research programme aimed at cutting aircraft noise by half and emissions of CO2 and NOx by 40% and 60% respectively by 2015. 

The initiative comes as the EU is attempting to slash rising air pollution from the rapidly growing aviation sector and is part of a three pillar approach, which includes a controversial proposal to include airlines in the EU’s carbon emissions cap-and-trade system (see LinksDossier on Aviation and the ETS). 

It is one of a planned six joint-technology initiatives created by the Commission, under its 7th Research Framework Programme, so as to avoid fragmentation of research efforts and boost large-scale and long-term investment in strategic research fields (EurActiv 7/03/07). 

The Clean Sky initiative will be equally financed by the 7th Research Framework Programme and industry funds, and will focus on six specific projects, including the design of greener engines, adapting wing technologies to make new aircraft more energy efficient, and developing lighter materials. The EU hopes that this will help European aircraft manufacturers compete in the race to build the world's cleanest planes.

Commissioner Potočnik said: "The EU is not just talking about tackling climate change. It is also making the necessary investment in technological development. Clean Sky will make the best use of both public and private resources to develop cleaner and quieter aircraft, with spill-over benefits in many other areas of science such as materials, computer simulations and energy management." 

Airlines have welcomed the initiative but at the same time have urged EU governments to focus more on the third pillar of Europe's strategy to limit the environmental impact of aviation – that is the creation of a 'Single European Sky'. 

According to the Association of European Airlines, while European airlines are already successfully limiting their greenhouse-gas emissions through technological improvements, around 12% of their carbon-dioxide output is needlessly caused by inadequate infrastructure. 

AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said: "While the EU seeks to incorporate aviation into the Emissions Trading Scheme, we are facing the prospect of having to buy permits to fly round in circles waiting for landing slots, or zigzag across the sky from one national airway network to another." 

According to Schulte-Strathaus, the Single Sky would be good for the environment, would cut costs for airlines and reduce delays for passengers. "The project is technically feasible; its greatest obstacle is political…By its very nature, the Single Sky concept requires individual countries to relinquish sovereignty over their airspace and cooperate in one single system," he added.