The plans are ambitious. Implementation requires climate-neutral fuels and innovations in drive technology. The first hydrogen-powered aircraft could take off as early as 2035.
According to the aviation industry, climate-neutral flying will be possible by 2050. A roadmap presented today envisages a gradual transition to clean air traffic. The move to climate-neutral flying offers great opportunities for Germany and Europe to become pioneers in an industry of the future. This is what it says in the joint paper by the associations of the aviation industry (BDL) and the aerospace industry (BDLI) with the think tank Zentrum Liberale Moderne. The production of climate-neutral fuels on a large technical scale is in demand, as are innovations in aircraft construction and propulsion technology. The newspapers of the “Funke Mediengruppe” reported about it first.
In the short term, according to the proposals, air traffic should be shifted to rail and aircraft emissions should be offset. The first short-haul aircraft with hybrid drives could then take off in 2025. According to plans, synthetic fuel will be added to kerosene from 2030 onwards. Five years later, the first hydrogen-powered aircraft could take off. By the middle of the century at the latest, it should finally be possible to fly with green hydrogen.
The authors call on politicians to make important regulations. Incentives for the use of alternative fuels would have to be created, price dumping prevented and neutral competition ensured. Significant kerosene savings can be achieved with more efficient routes in European airspace. To do this, the EU member states would have to be willing to relinquish part of their airspace control.
Source: Stern
