Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says its clear the industry is witnessing a revolution. Speaking on day one of Farnborough International Airshow 2024, Hillier said that two years ago we were on the cusp of the next aerospace revolution.
“I spoke of the huge changes coming to how people move around cities and leaps forward for sustainable aerospace.” As the industry gathers year for the bi-annual show, he added: “It’s clear that we are now witnessing that revolution taking place.”
He pointed to the advancements in technology and an increased focus on sustainability as placing the sector in a transformative era. He also underlined the CAA’s role in fostering an environment where innovation can flourish and safety and security remains at the core of the industry.
Looking back over the last two years, he added that the organisation has played a key role in enabling the industry to develop and grow. “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.”
With new parts of the industry, including space flight, drones and advanced air mobility, developing rapidly he noted that the challenges of reducing emissions and meeting net zero goals mean that new technological and policy solutions are required for the sector to be able to grow ever more sustainably. Ramping up the UK’s role in developing new forms of propulsion such as hydrogen and electric need to be accelerated as does modernising the design of the UK’s airspace.
“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),” he urged.
“The Farnborough International Airshow provides a glimpse into this future, showcasing the innovations that will shape the next generation of aerospace, both in the vehicles and technology that makes flight possible and in inspiring young people to discover what aerospace could offer them.”
As he called for wider collaboration from stakeholders across the ecosystem, he concluded: “Together we are shaping the future of aerospace and I look forward to the exciting developments that lie ahead.”
