AVIATION

Toward a Zero Emission Future

You will experience the latest aerospace models at first hand: safer, more sustainable and quieter than ever before.
You discuss the latest research findings with scientists and engineers.
International country pavilions give you a global overview.
The ILA delegation program brings you together with political decision-makers.

Flying is one of the greatest achievements of mankind. Never before have more people been able to live the dream of flying. However, this also increases emissions. For years, the aerospace industry has been researching and developing new technologies to make air travel more sustainable, quieter and even safer. Because it is clear that only sustainable aviation will ensure mobility and climate protection in the long term and thus retain the "license to operate".

Green flying is the future, and it has already begun. The next generation of aircraft may already be climate neutral. How the take-off to zero emissions will be achieved in concrete terms will be demonstrated at the ILA. There is no contradiction between economic success and clean flying − on the contrary, aircraft, engines, systems and equipment that are quieter, safer, cleaner and more comfortable than their predecessors are enjoying success on the global market. At ILA Berlin, you will encounter the future of flying today:

50% Reduction of net emissions by 2050

The aviation industry has pledged to achieve climate-neutral growth from 2020 and reduce net emissions by half by 2050, while significantly increasing traffic volumes. The international community of nations has agreed on this goal within the framework of the UN aviation organization ICAO. Our long-term goal is climate-neutral flying.

This can only be achieved if aircraft and engine manufacturers and airlines, aviation supply companies and startups, politicians and aviation authorities, and climate and noise researchers all join forces. For all of them, ILA Berlin is the place to be.

Aviation Exhibitor Overview
BREATHTAKING PROGRESS

Thanks to digitization, leaps in innovation in aviation are taking place at unimagined speed. Highlights on the latest technological developments:

DIGITALIZATION

With each new generation of aircraft, CO2 and noise emissions fall significantly and the requirements for economic efficiency and flight safety continue to rise. However, the development of new aircraft concepts is time-consuming and cost-intensive. But digitization acts like a turbo for new developments in the aviation industry. Virtual development processes allow the aircraft of tomorrow to fly in the computer first. Concepts can be improved at an early stage in terms of efficiency, safety and emissions. Industry 4.0 is also making manufacturing more agile and resource-efficient. Big data concepts that evaluate the information from thousands of sensors on the aircraft are completely reorienting aircraft maintenance − and thus making flying even more efficient, safer and with lower emissions. ILA Berlin will showcase state-of-the-art solutions and visions for the future.

3D PRINTING

The lighter an aircraft is, the better! Additive manufacturing technologies − 3D printing for short − are one key to achieving this. Today, the technology already offers weight reductions of 30 to 55 percent per component. In an Airbus A350 XWB, this can save up to a ton of weight. And for every kilogram of weight saved, several tons of kerosene and thus CO2 are saved over the course of an aircraft's life. In the medium and long term, 3D printing − in combination with bionic design − will even enable completely new, more aerodynamic and more efficient construction methods. The 3D masterminds will meet at the ILA.

UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS

Unmanned aerial systems can trigger the next revolution in air transport. Around the world, industry, research institutes and startups are developing and testing new concepts for making an environmentally friendly contribution to the mobility of the future. There is much more at stake here than purely technical questions: What new business models can be developed with the technology? What form must regulation take to ensure maximum safety in the future? What framework conditions will achieve social acceptance? The ILA shows what is already possible today and discusses the open questions with experts.

 

ELECTRIC FLIGHT

Clean, sustainable, safe and quiet flying: green electromobility is now taking off in the skies. Major companies in aircraft and engine manufacturing are pooling their expertise, which will be on display at the ILA.

FUELS

Novel fuels make a significant contribution to sustainability. That's why sustainable kerosene is high on the climate policy agenda − worldwide. In Germany, the federal government, states and industry are implementing a roadmap with the aim of establishing a supply of CO2-neutral power-to-liquid (PtL) fuels. In addition, research and industry are pursuing other approaches and extracting sustainable biofuels from algae, for example. The competition for the best technology and optimum CO2 balance will also be fought out at the ILA.

SILENT ENGINE TECHNOLOGY

Flying must also become quieter, and innovative engine technologies are making a major contribution to this. The latest engines, for example, reduce the noise footprint during takeoff by around 70 percent, and aircraft equipped accordingly can be seen at the ILA.

News

Destination carbon-neutral aviation 2

Destination carbon-neutral aviation

A roadmap: No means of transport is faster than an airplane – travelling from London to New York by ship takes 10 days. The same trip on a plane doesn’t even take 10 hours. Essential supply chains like the one needed to transport COVID-19 vaccines, which require continuous refrigeration, would hardly be feasible without air transportation – or would in any case come at an increased cost. Flying has been connecting humans, cultures and countries as a world wide web even before the internet came into existence.

More

Climate Research in the stratosphere

More than 23 missions through all continents and oceans and over 2000 flight hours: Between the Arctic and the Antarctic Oceans, the research aircraft “High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft“ − HALO − collects data from the atmosphere for climate research. It flies up to 15 Kilometers into the stratosphere. Thanks to the combination of range, extreme flight height, payload and extensive instrumentation the modified aircraft of US-manufacturer Gulfstream is a worldwide unique research platform. The HALO of the DLR is operated by a broad partnership of German research Institutes for environment and climate.

iSTAR

Flying simulator testing newest developments

The newest member of the DLR research aircrafts is the “in-flight Systems and Technology Airborne Research“ – iSTAR. The contract was finalized at #ILA2018. The particularity of the aircraft: Dassault’s converted Falcon 2000LX-Twinjet can test innovations like environment-friendly aircraft configurations under realistic conditions. Thus iSTAR is making an essential contribution for green aviation.

Reduced CO2 emissions, quieter aircraft: Aviation goes green

75 percent less CO2, 90% less nitrogen oxide and 65% less noise by 2050: The goals of the European aviation forum ACARE can be achieved through new technologies and fuels. More information is available at

www.acare4europe.org