Saab contributes to greener air traffic
Clean Sky is one of Europe’s largest ever research programs. Saab will, together with research centers and the aircraft industries of Europe, develop new technologies for greener, more environmentally efficient aircraft.
Image: Åke Svensson, President and CEO of Saab, and also chairman of the ASD (AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe), was one of the speakers when the Clean Sky project was launched in Brussels yesterday. Photo: Francois Robineau.
2/6/2008 | Clean Sky has the objective of reducing European air traffic’s emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides and noise by 20-40 percent by the year 2020. The budget of total 1.6 billion euros is being equally funded by the European commission and the industry.
The project was launched yesterday at a ceremony in Brussels that gathered more than 500 participants. Åke Svensson, President and CEO of Saab, and also chairman of the ASD (AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe), was one of the speakers.
“Great importance”
“Clean Sky is of great importance for the environment, the future of civil aviation and, of course, also for Saab and our position in the European aviation industry,” Åke Svensson stated. “We are proud that Saab is playing a vital part of the initiative and are confident that we can contribute to making air traffic more environmentally efficient.”
Saab is involved in two of a total of six sub areas, or ITD’s (Integrated Technology Demonstrators), which make up the entire Clean Sky initiative: Smart fixed wing and Green operations. In the first, Saab has the role as ITD leader together with Airbus.
Image: The Clean Sky launch ceremony gathered more than 500 participants. Photo: Francois Robineau.
“How and what we fly”
In his address to the Clean Sky Take off forum in Brussels, Åke Svensson, concluded:
“Put simply, Clean Sky is about two things: what we fly and how we fly. There is room for improvement, although the aviation industry has a proven track record of continuously making aviation more efficient and sustainable.”
A number of sub-areas are proposed within the framework of the Clean Sky project. Saab, together with Airbus, will develop a new wing configuration that is intended to be the basis for the next generation wing for large civil aircraft. Saab will also participate in developing new systems that will make it possible to plan flight paths much more intelligently than at present, which will lead to smarter and more fuel efficient flights.
New collaboration form
Clean Sky is a Joint Technology Initiative, a new collaboration form within the EU where industries, organizations and authorities participate, with the objective of developing and demonstrating new technologies. The Clean Sky JTI gathers the majority of the European aircraft industries, from small and medium sized enterprises up to the major players on the market. In addition, the research community is also a key player in the project.