Nine major European aerospace companies agreed to develop technology that reduces air and noise pollution from air transport, a statement said on Oct. 13. The "Clean Sky" project aims to cut noise and carbon dioxide emissions in half by 2020 and that of nitrogen oxide by 80%, in large part through reduced fuel consumption.
"Clean Sky will be the largest European aeronautics research project ever," the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) said at its annual convention in Vienna. The plan could obtain up to 1.7 billion euros (US2.1 billion) in funding if approved by the EU.
It was backed by AgustaWestland, Airbus, Alenia Aeronautica, Dassault Aviation, Eurocopter, Liebherr Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, Safran and Thales.
European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik told ASD members that to be more effective the research project should become a private-public partnership.
"By working together, we can identify and overcome obstacles to the implementation of this technology in all its very many applications," Potocnik said.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006
