Society News

The RAeS will be supporting ‘Flying in 2050′ at l’Academie de l’Air at de l’Espace, due to take place on 30 & 31 May 2012 in Toulouse.

Greener by Design member John Green is one of the speakers and Past President David Marshall will be joining the final discussion panel. The conference aims to address the risks facing the air transport sector between now and 2050.

The air transport sector and associated activities are vital for the European and global economy, but their future could be put at risk by 2050 if a certain number of strategic decisions are not taken in good time. In this area, air transport manufacturers and operators tend to limit their studies to a 20 year timescale.

The Air and Space Academy’s Foresight commission, made up of aeronautics experts, has identified the challenges to be met by air transport within the 2050 timeline and reviewed them in an initial report published on the following themes:

• Prospects for air traffic growth by 2050
• Quality of service expected by 2050
• Contribution of aircraft manufacturing
• Energy sources available for air transport
• Operational structures: airports and airlines
• Environmental impact
• Air traffic management
• The role of Space in air transport in 2050

With the participation of recognised, independent experts, this conference will aim to provide a platform for debate on these issues, to identify what is at stake and the challenges that must be met, and to provide recommendations and solutions for the attention of political and industrial policymakers, as well as the scientific and education community, whose task it is to prepare for tomorrow’s air transport system.

For more information on how to attend, click here.