Overview
World aeronautics is entering a new age of aviation – the age of sustainable growth– characterised by the need of more affordable, cleaner, quieter, safer and more secure air travel. European aeronautics is committed to play a prime role in shaping aviation for this new age. Research and technology development is essential in responding to this challenge.
The aeronautics research work programme is set against the two top-level objectives identified in the Strategic Research Agenda and the Vision 2020 Report:
- to meet society’s needs for a more efficient, safer and environmentally friendly air transport;
- to win global leadership for European aeronautics, with a competitive supply chain, including small and medium size enterprises.
The overall research work programme focuses on the aircraft vehicle, including its systems and components, for commercial transport (comprising regional and business aircraft as well as rotorcraft).
The work programme is structured in four research areas that contribute to achieving the two top-level objectives. They respond to the major challenges identified in the Strategic Research Agenda for European aeronautics. Research from the sub-programme 'improving aircraft safety and security' responds to the challenge of ensuring that irrespective of the growth of air traffic, air transportation will be even safer than before, and the aircraft secured from hostile actions while in operation.
The programme's objectives are:
- to reduce the accident rate by 50% and 80% in the short and long-term respectively;
- to obtain a drastic improvement in the capability of avoiding or recovering from human errors;
- to mitigate the consequences of survivable aircraft accidents;
- to significantly reduce the hazards of hostile actions while in flight.
The research areas include:
- human-machine interface
- accident prevention
- accident survivability
- aircraft security
- new aircraft concepts and breakthrough technologies