Airbus and Boeing have today signed an agreement to work more closely on environmental matters with an initial priority to focus on global interoperability of air traffic management (ATM ) – in particular their input to the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme which is about to move into its next phase.
CEOs Tom Enders and Scott Carson formally signed the deal on the sidelines of the third Aviation & Environment Summit in Geneva.
The ATM activity is the primary element of a three-pronged programme which also includes a commitment to continuing competition in developing new products while at the same time working to align their positions on environmental issues “where appropriate”.
SESAR moves from the current definition phase into the development phase in mid-2008 and Airbus senior VP ATM Eric Stefanello said at the signing ceremony: “Now…we will help the European Commission develop some solutions. Who can best help if not the aircraft manufacturers?”
He points out that a European capacity crisis is currently predicted to come to a head in 2012 with serious consequences if nothing is done, and he notes that France is determined to address ATM issues when it takes over the European Union presidency in two months time.
“They are very, very aware of this problem and want to do something about it,” he says.
Stefanello says key SESAR decisions will be taken over the next two years after which it is expected to yield its first “concrete results” in 2012 and to deliver its final output in 2020 by when it is intended to deliver fuel efficiency gains of around 10%.
Carson said: “Competition among the manufacturers is critical and let me assure you that this not under threat from what you see here today. We will continue to compete on the battlefield and we will continue to compete with Airbus to fulfil airlines’ needs.”
Enders added in a statement: “I am convinced technology and innovation hold the key to reducing aviation’s environmental impact and increasing eco-efficiency. And competition is a great motivator for this. Where Boeing and Airbus share a common position on the environment and safety, it is in all our interests that we cooperate to achieve our common goals more quickly.”
Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news
Source: FlightGlobal.com
