Aeronautics

Aero­nau­tics Re­search at DLR

Aviation is facing major challenges – continuing growth combined with environmental responsibility must jointly shape further development. DLR is developing solutions for the current and next generations of aeronautics technologies. In addition, with research expertise covering the entire air transport system, it is pursuing the goal of designing well-founded proposals for the generation after next and thus opening up new possibilities for air transport.

Strategy and programme

The air transport system of tomorrow will be environment friendly, safe, quiet and efficient. It will connect people and markets and thus make an important contribution to the mobility needs of a global society. In tandem with this, the increase in global air traffic and the question of environmental responsibility pose major challenges for the aviation industry.

Research infrastructure

Here you areDLR's portfolio comprises over 150 large-scale research facilities located at its sites across Germany and as far away as Earth’s polar regions. DLR makes these large-scale facilities available to partners from industry and academia for collaborative research purposes.

In ac­tion world­wide – fly­ing for re­search

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) operates the largest civilian fleet of research aircraft and helicopters in Europe. These highly-modified aircraft are either themselves the subject of aeronautics research or are used to observe the Earth, the ocean surfaces and the atmosphere. The aircraft are stationed at DLR’s sites in Braunschweig and Oberpfaffenhofen.

Na­tion­al and in­ter­na­tion­al net­work­ing

DLR aero­nau­tics re­search is net­worked at na­tion­al, Eu­ro­pean and glob­al lev­els. To­geth­er with gov­ern­ment rep­re­sen­ta­tives as well as part­ners from in­dus­try and re­search, and in­volv­ing ex­ten­sive co­op­er­a­tion with trade as­so­ci­a­tions and in­ter­est groups, DLR is work­ing to help shape the air trans­port sys­tem of the fu­ture. It plays a lead­ing role in many ar­eas of aero­nau­tics re­search, both na­tion­al­ly and in­ter­na­tion­al­ly.

Featured topics

Emis­sion-free flight

The objective has now been set in Germany and Europe, with the aim of achieving climate neutrality in the economy and society. This is how it is worded in the EU's 'Green Deal'. The consequences of climate change also compel us to strive towards climate-neutral air transport, as this sector is responsible for 3.5 percent of global warming. New technologies are needed to ensure global mobility in the future.

Un­manned Air­craft Sys­tems

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are already being applied in various ways – supplying poorly connected areas with medicines, providing disaster relief, in agricultural applications and supporting the transport of manufacturing parts between industrial sites.

Projects and guid­ing con­cepts

The Electric Aircraft

The demand for air transport is on the rise. At the same time, there is an ever-increasing call from society at large to significantly reduce the impact of air transport on the environment and climate.

The Ur­ban Air Mo­bil­i­ty

Whether in urban or sparsely populated areas, new and highly automated types of aircraft are set to play an ever-increasing role in global passenger and cargo transport over the coming decades.

News

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Links

Programme Management Agency for Aviation Research

The Project Management Agency for Aeronautics Research supports the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action with the implementation of the national civil aviation research programme of the Federal Government as well as the states of Bavaria, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg and Lower Saxony, which supplement the federal programme with their own funding programmes.

Institutes and facilities

From Aachen to Zittau and from Stade to Weilheim, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is represented by institutes and facilities at 30 locations across Germany. One of the latest waves of establishments took place in several steps starting in 2017 with a total of 15 new institutes.

Jobs and careers

Whether you are a sci­en­tist, en­gi­neer, tech­ni­cian or are look­ing to take up an ap­pren­tice­ship - DLR of­fers ex­cit­ing ca­reer op­por­tu­ni­ties for a wide range of tal­ents. Take a look at all our va­can­cies and find in­for­ma­tion about get­ting start­ed.

CEAS Aeronautical Journal

The CEAS Aeronautical Journal publishes scientific, peer-reviewed articles covering all areas of aeronautical research worldwide. Founded under the umbrella of CEAS (Council of European Aerospace Societies), the journal is supported by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). It is published by Springer Verlag both online and four times a year as an issue.

Downloads

Brochure: Towards zero-emission aviation (2021)

180.3 KB | PDF

EREA – The future of aviation

4.0 MB | PDF

White Paper: Zero Emission Aviation

2.6 MB | PDF