Zero-emissions air cargo flights could move closer to reality with the launch of the UK government’s Zero Emission Flight (ZEF) Delivery Group.
The group, which will sit under the Jet Zero Council advisory forum, is made up of aviation experts across industry and government who will work together with the aim of making zero-emissions flights feasible, such as with the use of battery and hydrogen technology.
The government’s ZEF Delivery Group terms of reference state that the group’s objectives include providing “advice to government and the JZC on how best to accelerate the adoption of zero emission aircraft in commercial air transport for passenger and freight operations”.
This new steering group aims to help position the UK at the forefront of the global shift to green aviation by supporting the development of zero-emissions aircraft and airport infrastructure. It will also look at how the law needs to adapt so that sustainable flying can truly become a reality.
It will focus specifically on the technology, infrastructure and regulation needed to make zero-emissions flight a reality.
The new group will be led by Rachel Gardner-Poole, who joins with over 20 years of experience in military and commercial aviation and is currently the chief operating officer for the Connected Places Catapult.
Under Gardner-Poole's leadership, the ZEF Delivery Group will build on the progress made through the Aerospace Technology Institute’s (ATI) FlyZero project and the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Flight Infrastructure project.
The government is investing in aerospace R&D through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme and £685m will be provided over the next three years.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We are determined to bring forward the flight technology of the future, and through our new Zero Emission Flight Delivery Group, we will help create thousands of jobs around the country and take another step toward zero emission flights.”
