Airbus Summit 2021
Sustainability & Decarbonisation
AIRBUS SUMMIT 2021
The Airbus Summit was held on 21-22 September 2021, bringing together renowned aerospace experts, operators, thinkers, journalists, influencers, and policy makers worldwide. This industry-wide conversation explored the innovations and cross-sector partnerships that will change the way we travel forever.
The overarching theme throughout the Summit was sustainability and decarbonisation; and more specifically how Airbus and the industry will come together to implement the necessary mix of solutions for a credible journey towards net-zero.
Momentum is building behind sustainable aerospace. Decarbonisation will require deep collaboration, and the engagement of a whole industry beyond commercial aircraft – including space and helicopters.
Technology challenge
Decarbonisation
In part 1, explore the latest Air Traffic Management innovations and their impact on the environmental footprint of air transport in Europe. Discover ALBATROSS – a 2 year SESAR project involving major European aviation stakeholders – with the ambition to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing the most efficient flight in the short term, by combining several innovations: continuous climb & descent operations, flight trajectory optimisation, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hybrid Taxibot assistance on the ground.
In part 2, ZEROe, the solar-powered Zephyr and SAF will take the spotlight. The road to sustainable aerospace is taking shape, but now, an entire ecosystem will need to leverage its collective resources to deliver during the 2030s timeframe. As new fuels and technologies emerge to outpace expectations, the winds of change are sweeping across the aerospace industry. Are we ready to go beyond business as usual?
The future is electric
eVTOL & electrification
Since 2010, Airbus has been pursuing its electrification journey, making significant progress on propulsion technologies and launching groundbreaking demonstrator projects.
At the Airbus Summit, all eyes were on CityAirbus, our flagship urban air mobility demonstrator. This all-electric four-seat multicopter VTOL has made some major progress, including a demo that confirmed the highest take-off weight – at 2,310 kg – of a fully electric VTOL aircraft with a distributed drive system. During the event, updates on Airbus’ company-wide electrification roadmap, including a focus on Urban Air Mobility and helicopter hybridisation, were shared.
The road to net-zero
Perspective from airlines
While the worst crisis to ever hit the aviation sector is still posing existential threats, uncertainties and risks, airlines remain key players in making the decarbonisation of air travel a reality. At the Airbus Summit, exciting discussions took place during the “Road to net-zero – part 1 & part 2” moments with some of the most recognised brands representing four continents.
In part 1, two major low cost carriers either side of the Atlantic discuss why sustainability is so important and their roadmap amid the business uncertainties that remain.
In part 2, four major full service carriers representing four continents discuss what sustainability means for them and their roadmap amid the business uncertainties that remain.
Static display
Products and innovations
The commitment of the aviation sector to achieving net-zero emissions will not happen all at once in 2050. Decarbonising is a journey that has already started and we, at Airbus, have been showing the way with very concrete achievements.
Gathering some of the company's most emblematic products and solutions - namely the BelugaXL, A350, A320neo, A321XLR, ATR 72, CityAirbus and H130 Flight Lab, Copernicus Sentinel-2, but also Tarmac Aerosave, Taxibot and our Biomass Truck, the Airbus Summit products@static-display showcases several technologies and initiatives with which Airbus paves the way to what will come next in terms of innovations.
Space insights for climate action
The last five years have been the warmest on record. Melting glaciers and polar ice caps are causing sea levels to rise by three millimetres a year. To study climate phenomena like these and make smart decisions about climate change, reliable data is needed. Airbus plays a vital role: the company not only builds many of the Earth observation satellites measuring key climate variables, it also transforms their data into actionable insights to better understand and fight climate change.
Airbus satellites and geospatial data help climatologists and governments to monitor and fight climate change. Find out more during the “Space insights for climate action” moment with special guest Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General.
Making net-zero carbon aviation a reality
A collective challenge
The aviation sector has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 through an international approach, working with governments around the world and through the UN. Decarbonising aviation remains a huge challenge, and collaboration will be critical.
That's why the Airbus Summit explored the coordinated actions necessary for the aerospace sector to start delivering on its decarbonisation ambitions.
How does the sector turn ambition into action? This roundtable will explore how the entire aviation ecosystem can work with policy-makers and regulators to ensure that it delivers on its commitments in a harmonised way.
Preparing for tomorrow
A collective challenge
The formidable transformation facing the aerospace industry is also a huge challenge from an HR perspective.
In the coming years, the journey to decarbonising aerospace will be transformative for the industry and an exciting challenge for all of those who are going to be involved in rethinking the way we design, source, build, finance, sell, market, maintain our products and manage their end of life.
Developing all-electric or hybrid vehicles, hydrogen and other low-emissions technologies will require the smartest, the most diverse, and the most forward-thinking talents. Attracting and developing them in a diverse and stimulating working environment is one of the main objectives of the company.
At the Airbus Summit, some exciting discussions took place during the “Preparing for tomorrow” moment.
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