Aero 2050: Flying More Sustainably

Report by the Institution's Aerospace Division assesses potential solutions for decarbonising aviation.

This report was initiated by the Aerospace Division of IMechE and presents a pragmatic assessment of the potential routes towards more sustainable commercial air transport to help guide policymakers, inform the public, and stimulate more coordinated discussion and collaboration.

It examines some of the potential pathways that could be followed over the next 25 years, identifies some of the main barriers to be overcome and provides a candid assessment of which technology paths are likely to be achievable. Experience shows that, over any long period of time, there is always the potential for both radical technology advancements and the emergence of unknown challenges.

This report is therefore presented as a green paper and is intended to be a living document to be updated as future developments emerge in a rapidly changing field. Publication will be followed by workshop and roundtable discussions aimed at fostering focused engagement between industry, government and academia. By encouraging dialogue and collaboration on the development of specific aerospace technologies and on the UK’s future strategy for energy transition processes, consensus can be reached regarding the potential risks, key enablers and anticipated outcomes associated with the route to more sustainable air transport.

For more information about the report:

Engineering Policy Unit 
Institution of Mechanical Engineers 
policy@imeche.org