GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

The SESAR 3 JU has identified the following innovative research elements that could be used to meet the challenge described above and achieve the expected outcomes.

• Atmospheric physics for aviation (non-CO2) emissions, noise and air quality pollutants. Research should aim in particular to reduce the uncertainty associated with the radiative forcing effects of aviation emissions identified in the 2020 European Commission report on the non-CO2 impacts of aviation.

Research aims at increasing the body of knowledge on the impact of ATM on areas such as noise and air quality pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NOX), particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and unburnt hydrocarbons (HC). Research aims at better understanding the ATM environmental impacts beyond greenhouse emissions (CO2 and non-CO2 aviation emissions).

• Noise and air quality pollutants. Research aims at increasing the body of knowledge on the impact of ATM on areas such as noise and air quality pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NOX), particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and unburnt hydrocarbons (HC). Research aims at better understanding the ATM environmental impacts beyond greenhouse emissions (CO2 and non-CO2 aviation emissions).
• Comparative study on potential metrics to be adopted in the ATM domain to aggregate non-CO2 and CO2 impacts on climate change. Proposals should include an initial task to review the state of the art of environmental metrics and engage with all relevant stakeholders in order to provide insights into the pros and cons of each potential metric, with the aim of formulating informed recommendations for the way forward, including the identification of additional research needs if applicable. This research should consider how metrics can be used in different contexts, for example for operational decision-making in the pre-tactical and tactical phases of ATFM, operational decision-making in real time by ATC, post-operations analysis and environmental performance monitoring at network level.
• Atmospheric physics for aviation (extreme weather events). This element focuses on climate resilience and adaptation, as it aims at increasing the body of knowledge on the physics of the atmosphere, to make it possible to better predict extreme weather events that may impact aircraft operations, and in particular cause airport closures or significant reductions in airport capacity (with knock-on effects on the network). The research should in particular consider the challenges for accurate prediction that may result from changes to weather patterns arising from global warming in the short to medium-term.
• Environmental impact assessment methodology and new metrics. Τhe use of big data analysis and machine learning should be extended to the development of new environmental metrics that will be used to monitor environmental impacts and incentivise actors to promote compliance with environmental targets and regulations. These metrics will also be integrated into the environmental dashboard, and into the environment impact assessments toolset.
• Development of the environmental performance-monitoring toolkit to include new entrants. This element covers the expansion of the ATM aircraft performance models (on emissions and noise) to include new entrants and new aircraft types/fuels. It involves research into the impact on the environment of new fuels and/or new aircraft types (hydrogen, electric, sustainable aviation fuels, new hyper-/supersonic aircraft (with consideration of sonic booms), including the development of new models to assess the impact that ATM operational changes may have when these aircraft are introduced into the traffic mix.
• Impact of zero-emission aircraft on ATM. The research shall be tightly focused on the ATM dimension; impact of ATM on other relevant domains, or impact of ATM constraints on other domains may be addressed, but this should not be the core objective of the project. Integration of the new aircraft models into ATM models is in scope, but development of aircraft/propulsive systems and/or aircraft/propulsive system models is out of scope (the research should use aircraft/propulsive system models developed prior to the start of the project). The goal of this research is to inform policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers about the potential R&D needs to allow the safe integration of zero emission aircraft in the ATM system (R&I need: impact of new entrants).
• New forms of air traffic management. Research aims at exploring new forms of air traffic management to support the integration of highly automated vehicles and autonomous aircraft e.g., high altitude platform systems (HAPS), aircraft with new propulsion systems (electric/hydrogen), unmanned aircraft systems, recreational flying vehicles and other new entrant operators while minimising their environmental impact, in terms of greenhouse gases emissions, noise and air pollutants.