The European Green Deal launched by the European Commission in December 2019 aims to create the world’s first climate-neutral bloc by 2050. This ambitious target calls for deep-rooted change across the aviation sector and places significantly stronger focus on the environmental impact of flying.

SESAR is playing an important role, alongside other stakeholders in the ATM value chain, by addressing inefficiencies in air traffic management. Through our research and innovation programme we are seeking to bring about a digital transformation in ATM,  developing technological solutions that can deliver a “perfect flight” in terms of carbon emissions reduction and that can create a fully connected airspace.

This requires looking at every phase of the flight and use of the airspace, and seeing what technologies can be used to eliminate fuel inefficiencies. It also requires synchronised data exchange and operations on the ground and in the air to ensure maximum impact.

Much of the focus of the work has been on making taxi-out operations more predictable and efficient, reducing  holding patterns and vectoring in terminal airspace upon arrival; and optimising trajectories through the use of i4D, among other technologies. All of which bring fuel savings.

SESAR 3 JU is also a member of the AZEA
(Alliance for Zero-Emission Aviation)