Sustainability in The Aviation and Aerospace Industry

Dear Colleagues,

In 1895, the esteemed British mathematical physicist Lord Kelvin declared that heavier-than-air flight was impossible. Eight years later, the Wright brothers proved him wrong, and a new industry was born. As we prepare to enter the third decade of the 21st century, most people view aviation as a commonplace mode of transportation. Others recognize that it is vital to global tourism and trade. Yet, there are those that question its sustainability and its impacts. While sustainability can be narrowly focused on environmental issues, it can also be extended to financial viability, production processes, and human resources. In this broad context, it is reasonable to ask a number of questions. Where will the highly trained workforce come from? Can it reduce its negative impacts? Can it adapt and become more sustainable? What is the future of this industry?

While airlines and airports are the most visible part of the industry to the average citizen, there are many components to this complex industry. There are the manufacturers of airframes and engines and their many subcontracters and parts suppliers, which make up a complex, global supply chain. There is the cargo industry, which includes the giant integrated providers such as FedEx and UPS, carriers that specize only in air cargo, and commercial carriers with cargo that is carried in the bellies of their aircrafts. There are the Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) who are responsible for ensuring that air traffic travels safely through the airspace over open ocean and hundreds of nations. There are the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operators that are increasingly responsible for the heavy maintenance of the world’s commercial fleets. There are the global leasing companies that ‘own’ an inccreasing percentage of the global fleet. There are the insurers that handle valuation and coverage of these global fleets. Finally, there are the regulators that are responsible for overseeing the safety, security, and viability of the industry. In short, there are many parts that make up the aviation and aerospace industry.

Each segment of the industry faces different challenges with respect to sustainability and has different options for responding. Airports are concerned with local impacts, such as air quality, noise, and growth. Airlines are fuel-intensive emitters of green house gases (GHGs) but currently have few other options for non-petroleum operations. ANSP are faced with growing volumes of traffic to manage and direct while trying to upgrade and improve technology. Manufacturers are highly research-intensive firms with long lead times. Regulators are faced with the daunting task of overseeing a very technology-driven industry where the ‘experts’ are the very people they are trying to regulate.

I invite you to consider submitting your contribution to the important discussion of sustainability in aviation and aerospace. Together, we can move the discussion forward with our questions, challenges, and solutions.

Prof. Dr. Dawna L. Rhoades
Guest Editor

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