Aviation witnessing a revolution, says UK CAA
Speaking on day one (Monday 22 July) of Farnborough International Airshow 2024, Sir Stephen Hillier, chair of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said that two years ago at the last airshow, we were on the cusp of a revolution. As the industry gathers at Farnborough this year, he added it’s clear that revolution is now taking place.
“The advancements in technology, coupled with an increased focus on sustainability, places us in the midst of a transformative era in aviation.
“At the UK CAA, we are playing a leading role in fostering an environment where innovation can flourish while ensuring the highest levels of safety and security for the public.”
Referencing the key work the CAA has played over the last two years in enabling the industry to develop and grow by enabling testing and working on the development of new regulatory frameworks and services, he said: “As the sector continues to innovate and develop new technologies, it is our role to enable this new activity by anticipating the regulatory challenges and how these new forms of aerospace can be safely integrated into the existing system.”
While new parts of the sector, including space flight, drones and advanced air mobility, developing rapidly, the challenges of sustainability continue to loom large. Modernising the UK’s airspace, sustainable aviation fuels and new forms of propulsion including hydrogen and electric must be accelerated Hillier urged.
“Overhauling our airspace is a long-term and complex endeavour, requiring concerted efforts and collaboration from the aerospace industry,” he said. “But innovation in aerospace is not possible without harnessing the young talent we have across the country and encouraging careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Highlighting the role that Farnborough International Airshow plays in providing a glimpse into the future and providing a platform for collaboration and innovation he called for stakeholders across the industry to work more closely with each other to “drive growth, share knowledge and develop new ways of working.”
