EUROCONTROL - European Organization for the safety of air navigation

12/13/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 12/13/2024 02:37

Interview with Antoine Toulemont

Aviation plays a pivotal role in providing connectivity to Europe's regions with pioneering aircraft manufacturers contributing to setting up sustainable solutions for tailored routes. In our interview with Antoine Toulemont, European Regions Airline Association's Head of Sustainability and advisor to electric aircraft manufacturer AURA AERO, we spoke about the current challenges of the regional aviation market and how AURA AERO is making significant progress developing hybrid-electric regional aircraft.

The regional aviation sector is faced with a number of key challenges while balancing the ambition for decarbonisation with financial sustainability. Could you explain some of the key challenges of your members to us?

Regional aviation has a vital place in air transport, offering essential connectivity from remote regions to economic centres, flying in all seasons, in every weather condition. Regional airlines operate with low ticket margins; they are currently battling with supply chain issues and costs, together with a lack of resources among aircrew teams. Some engine overhaul costs have almost tripled in the last few years; this is a major issue that airlines are fighting at the moment. For regional airlines, staff dedication to passenger service, the continuation of operations and keeping the regions connected, is a day-to-day priority. Many of these airlines are small and medium enterprises, they are not multinationals, and hence require a different focus in terms of EU policies. They have a very clear view of what concrete actions need to be achieved, in terms of policy requirements and regional support, in order to bring sustainable air connectivity and ambitious fleet renewal objectives.

How do regional operators - and more specifically ERA members - intend to do their part in aviation decarbonisation?

We strongly believe that regional aviation, due to its size and the particularity of its routes, will be the first segment to fully implement the main three pillars of aviation decarbonisation. This includes: the rolling out of new aircraft technologies, the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and the optimisation of air traffic services, as well as ground operations. ERA has a unique position here bringing together the overall regional aviation ecosystem, from airlines to OEMs, suppliers and airports, working together to make our sector truly sustainable.

With regards to the new European Commission, what key policy priorities would ERA advocate to support aviation decarbonisation in the regional segment?

In the early stages of this new mandate we are set to witness the roll out of a Clean Industrial Deal (note of editor: a plan announced by the Commission aimed to support decarbonisation while bringing down energy prices).

We believe that aviation should be included in the scope and would benefit from such industrial support, with enhanced financial access for new technology aircraft.

The recent parliamentary hearing of the new Commissioner for Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, has confirmed the Commission's intention for a revision of the Air Service Regulation very early in his mandate. This is very positive and we expect a revision of the Public Service Obligation framework, which we believe will act as a kick starter for the market for new-technology aircraft. More globally, we expect policy actions that will protect the thin margins of regional air operators.

"We strongly believe that regional aviation, due to its size and the particularity of its routes, will be the first segment to fully implement the main three pillars of aviation decarbonisation."

Antoine Toulemont ERA's Head of Sustainability and advisor to AURA AERO

Besides your role at ERA, you also serve as European and International Affairs adviser at electric aircraft manufacturer AURA AERO. What are the main challenges and opportunities for Zero Emission Aircraft manufacturers, in particular concerning funding and certification?

The upside for a new aircraft manufacturer is that you generally have no current cost structure or production plant to entertain, but the downside is that you have to finance a new aircraft programme from scratch, with almost no revenues. With AURA AERO, we have taken up this challenge and this year, we have an objective to raise more than €150m, which will soon be achieved. This is thanks to the huge support from the European Commission, where we have been awarded both the EIC Accelerator (€17.5m) and the Innovation Fund (€95m). This positions us well to deliver on our industrial milestones. On the certification side, AURA AERO has chosen a strategy to evolve within the CS- 23 certification category of EASA, with our Integral aircraft programme and the ERA (Electric Regional Aircraft). Earlier this year, we signed a Pre-Application Contract with EASA, engaging with certification teams early in the design process. This is a very innovative and useful format and will give both sides confidence for a successful certification process.

Together with EUROCONTROL and many other aviation organisations, both ERA as well as AURA AERO are members of the Alliance for Zero-Emission Aviation (AZEA) - a group, formed by the European Commission to support the roll-out of hydrogen-powered and electric aircraft. Where do you see both organisations' key contributions to the group?

I sit in this alliance as an AURA AERO representative, and ERA is represented by our regional airline members, notably Widerøe. It is very important to highlight the voice of the regional segment, as, the AZEA Vision document has highlighted that before 2050, the majority of regional flights will be operated by electric, hybrid and hydrogen aircraft. We need to support more new-technology OEMs in reaching the industrial stage, as it will mean more choices for regional air carriers, more competition and more willingness to invest in clean technologies. This is the direction we are taking with AURA AERO and its partners.

In your opinion, what can aviation actors, from airspace users to airports, to policymakers and EUROCONTROL, do to make aviation more sustainable faster?

I believe we are in the final EU mandate that can move aviation into an industrial stage to deliver on sustainability objectives. This includes not only new technologies, but also sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as both sectors face similar challenges and opportunities.

We need to incentivise established actors to shift toward more sustainable products, while also financing new entrants - innovative companies with the potential to become leaders in new technology. EUROCONTROL has a unique position to advocate in this direction and provide more guidance, by the quality of its work and its Sustainability team, notably with the FlyingGreen platform (note of editor: EUROCONTROL's tools and resources to support aviation stakeholders in adopting green practices).

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