Aviation Civile

© J. Denier/Médiathèque Europa
16 SuSTAINAbLE DEVELoPMENT
VERy ACTIVE INTERNATIoNAL CooPERATIoN 17
siim Kallas, vice-president of the European Commission for
Transport, reminds us of the importance of European research
in the development of the air transport sector. Objective: to
reconcile economic competitiveness and the environment.
european research
emphasises its coherence
what approach is Europe prioritising
in terms of the sustainable
development of air transport?
The European Union is trying to reduce
aviation’s carbon footprint in four ways.
The first consists in creating new international
standards for aircraft and
engines. Substantial amounts of money
will then be made available to encourage
the development and use of green
technologies, such as biofuels.
Air traffic control is also to be modernised,
with the measures contained
in the European Single Sky legislative
package and the SESAR* programme
(read pp. 10-11). This modernisation
will help us to achieve our objectives, in
particular a reduction in CO 2 emissions
of 10% per flight, a necessary measure
while waiting for the real technological
breakthrough in aircraft and aeroengine
design.
The fourth element is the inclusion of
“we have to focus research
on promising technologies
to make production more
economic while boosting
our competitiveness”
aviation in the European Union’s emission
quotas trading market.
what is the role of ACArE, the
Advisory Council for Aeronautics
research in Europe?
This technological platform has contributed
to defining the strategic agenda for
European research. Such coherence at
the European level, between the priorities
of the different member states,
industry and research, is unprecedented.
We are sharing a set of objectives in
order to concentrate an important part
of research on flagship projects such as
Clean Sky and SESAR.
The Commission is also preparing a
strategic programme for transport
technologies. It will focus the research
on promising technologies to make
our production more economic in
its use of resources while boosting
competitiveness.
I have also invited a group of representatives
of the major sectors of aviation,
aeronautics and research to develop a
“Vision for 2050”.
what progress has been made with
the Clean sky technological initiative
that you’ve mentioned?
This is one of our biggest projects.
Launched in 2005, its aim is to develop
a new generation of aircraft that are
more environmentally friendly, quieter
and also competitive. The work brings
together the 122 founder members and
400 partner organisations.
Clean Sky tackles technological questions
that have political repercussions.
For example, the design of engines that
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
noise pollution. The “integrated technological
demonstrators” and the scientific
tests have now been started, both on the
ground and in the air. I am, furthermore,
convinced that the European aviation
industry will be able to use the results of
Clean Sky in its marketing strategies.
what is your reaction to the ICAo
resolution on limiting the Co 2
emissions of international civil
aviation?
It is a major success that a resolution on
such a tricky subject has been adopted by
190 countries. Aviation is the first transport
sector where this has happened.
The ICAO resolution, with the support
of industry, shows the commitment of
the international aviation community
to developing sustainable air transport.
Interviewed by henri Cormier
*Single European Sky ATM Research.
Aviation Civile magazine No.358_ June 2011 Aviation Civile magazine No.358_ June 2011
© Thinkstock 2011
The central mission of the DGAC is
to improve the safety of air transport.
International cooperation work
contributes fully to this, consisting
in providing foreign civil aviation
authorities with technical support
and undertaking training programmes
at their request. Through this approach,
the DGAC ensures not only the promotion
of its know-how but also that of French
and European industry, thanks to the
International cooperation mission team.
This unit works closely with the experts
of the DGAC, the National Civil Aviation
School (ENAC), the Civil Aviation Safety
Research and Analysis office and
the General Council of the Environment
and Sustainable Development.
The mission also relies on a network
of aeronautics attachés at the French
embassies in brazil, China, Russia
and India. With permanent links with
the International Cooperation mission,
these aeronautics “ambassadors”
are in daily contact with their local
interlocutors. They have precious
knowledge of the organisation and
functioning of the foreign
administrations and markets and this
is vital for the success of DGAC technical
support operations and informing
French industry. The Sino-European
institute of civil aviation engineering
of Tianjin, set up in 2007, and
the introduction in India of new flight
procedures are good examples of
the results.
Élisabeth Dallo
Directorate general for Civil Aviation
Directorate of Air Transport
Director of the International
Cooperation Mission
A network of expertise