Air transport plays a critical role in the global economy and the development of the global multicultural society. It is particularly important to the UK given its location as an island community on the geographic periphery of the European community. The UK also has the second-largest aerospace and aviation economy in the world, and it has been a global leader in the sector for over 60 years.

Over the last 30 years there has been a six-fold growth in aviation. At the same time there has been a 60 per cent improvement in aircraft fuel-efficiency and more than a 20-decibel reduction in the noise generated by aircraft. However, today predictions suggest that, in the absence of any external constraints, air transport capacity will grow by a factor of four over the next 30 years. It is widely agreed that this would bring significant economic and social benefits.

Unfortunately, in terms of environmental impact – notably climate change, aircraft noise disturbance and local air-quality around airports – this level of growth will be very difficult to sustain.

Current forecasts indicate that evolutionary performance improvements through advanced technology and operational efficiency alone will not deliver sustainable growth. Radical changes in technology and new ways of delivering services are necessary.

The UK aviation industry, through the trade associations, SBAC (manufacturers), BATA (airlines) and AOA (airports), plus NATS (air traffic services) has acknowledged the need to address ‘sustainability’. It has recognised the importance of environmental issues and the pressing need for major research programmes to improve understanding and to provide solutions. At a European level, similar conclusions have been reached by the industry-led Advisory Council for Research in Europe (ACARE) and in the USA by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Academe is in an excellent position to respond to these challenges. The UK has a long-established, substantial, world-class academic capability in aerospace-related physics, aeronautical engineering, air-transport management, and in the wide range of disciplines that govern the environmental impact of aviation. However, this has been a highly fragmented resource that rarely acts collectively and, as a result, is not currently achieving its full potential.

As a result, through the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), the Higher Education Funding Council for England has provided £5m for Manchester Metropolitan University to bring together a consortium of leading universities to work with manufacturers such as Airbus and Rolls Royce; airport operators such as the BAA and MAG; airlines such as BA; air traffic-management organisations such as NATS; and policymakers and regulatory bodies including the Department for Transport and the Department of Trade and Industry, to develop risk-
reduction strategies for UK aviation.

It is essential all stakeholders understand the magnitude of the challenges and recognise that radical changes may be needed. The OMEGA project (Opportunities for Meeting the Environmental Challenge of Growth in Aviation) will generate a co-operative programme between industry, policy makers and academe to consider medium and long-term strategies, define specific areas, and develop research programmes.

OMEGA will benefit the industry, and facilitate aviation growth by providing the evidence base to underpin strategic decision-making. UK academe also stands to raise its international profile and drive the debate with targeted world-leading research.

It is vital that the UK continues to provide leadership and protect its interests by having an influential voice, both in international debates and in the determination of realistic international targets for environmental regulation. In order to make the strongest possible case, it is necessary to use best available scientific and technical information and to quantify, wherever possible, remaining uncertainties. This requires advocates and decision-makers to have an integrated source of the best possible information, evidence and opinion. The challenges faced by the air transport industry are clear to all stakeholders, but the necessary responses are not.