Heathrow has won funding from Innovate UK’s Future Flight Challenge, which gives the airport the opportunity to research new concepts that could help to reduce emissions.
One of the two successful projects being researched is Project NAPKIN – which stands for New Aviation Propulsion Knowledge and Innovation Network – and sets out to develop a blueprint that could be used to help make zero-carbon aviation a reality across the UK.
The Future Flight Challenge, funded through £125 million of government grants, has three overarching objectives: safeguarding the UK’s advantage in aerospace research and development, reducing aviation emissions and creating economic opportunities from new forms of air mobility.
Heathrow has kicked-off the first stage of the research of these concepts, which is set to take place through till early 2022. The next phase will see live demonstrations of the concepts in action with the long-term aim of wider adoption across the aviation industry. The hub airport is working with several groups across a number of sectors to bring this challenge to life including Oxford University, Cranfield University, Kings College London, NATS, SITA, Rolls Royce, University of Southampton, Deloitte, UCL, IBS Software, London City Airport and Highlands and Islands Airports.
The challenge brings together established leaders in aviation, academics and SMEs and the tech industry to research the use of drones, air mobility, air traffic management as well as infrastructure innovation.
Heathrow CEO, John Holland-Kaye, said: “Heathrow has always served as a testbed for ground-breaking green technologies. These concepts go further than ever before, with the potential to transform the role that aviation plays in Britain’s economy. The Future Flight Challenge has come at a critical time for the country and our industry. We’re proud to be driving forward with these disruptive initiatives in the year that the UK hosts COP26 and our industry builds back better, as we work to recover from the devastating impacts of this pandemic.”
Minister for Business, Paul Scully, said:“We’re investing in ambitious projects, like Heathrow’s development of a blueprint for zero-carbon regional air travel, to ensure the aviation industry is championing the latest cutting-edge technology.
“Pioneering research supported by government funding will help the UK build back greener from the pandemic, remain at the forefront of aerospace research and development, and demonstrate global leadership in the next aviation revolution. I look forward to seeing such proposals take flight.”
