EU Clean Aviation research programme presents High Five Awards
- The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is the European Union's leading research and innovation programme for transforming aviation towards a sustainable and climate-neutral future.
- At the Paris Air Show, the High Five Awards are celebrating five individuals working to make sustainable flight a reality.
- Christiane Voigt from the DLR Institute of Atmospheric Physics is among the winners.
- Focus: Aviation, aeronautics, climate-friendly flying
On 20 June 2023 at the Paris Air Show, Clean Aviation announced the five winners of the inaugural High Five Awards, recognising individuals who have demonstrated commitment, innovative thinking and leadership in their pursuit of a greener and more sustainable aviation sector. One of the ambassadors for sustainable air transport of the future is Christiane Voigt of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR). She is being honoured for her extensive research on technologies to reduce the environmental impact of aircraft related to carbon dioxide and non-carbon effects.
The contrails and nitrogen oxides produced by aircraft have a warming effect on Earth's atmosphere twice as strong as that of the carbon dioxide they emit. However, the short lifespan of these contrails means there is a significant potential benefit associated with reducing their production quickly and efficiently. Together with her team and international partners, Voigt is investigating various mitigation options, such as avoiding flying through regions with weather conditions susceptible to contrail formation – a 'quick win' for aviation. In order to make the aircraft of the future more climate friendly as quickly as possible, operational measures such as this will also have to be combined with technological developments. Voigt is receiving the award for her innovative research on emissions and the climate impact of more efficient aircraft, modern engines, sustainable aviation fuels and, as an option for the future, hydrogen. She is thus a pioneer for the climate-friendly aviation.
The winners will serve as High Five Ambassadors for one year to help raise awareness about Clean Aviation, promote its values and objectives and highlight the critical importance of reducing the impact of aviation on the environment. Clean Aviation launched the first edition of the High Five Awards in March 2023 to celebrate five individuals working to make sustainable flight a reality.
Applications were open to a wide range of profiles active in the aeronautics sector including researchers, academics, students, engineers, entrepreneurs, journalists, economists and public servants. In total, close to 100 applications from 19 countries were received from a wide range of profiles active in the aeronautics sector. The Awards represent Clean Aviation's commitment to climate-neutral aviation and support of the European Green Deal.
The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is the European Union's leading research and innovation programme for transforming aviation towards a sustainable and climate-neutral future. The programme's disruptive clean aviation technologies will help reduce the emission footprint of short-medium range aircraft by no less than 30 percent, and 50 percent for regional aircraft, when compared to state-of-the-art aircraft in 2020. Clean Aviation builds on the knowledge and expertise of the Clean Sky programmes (2008-2024).