When the world's aviation industry leaders issued a rallying cry last week, declaring committed action on climate change, there was a complete absence of targets plotted against an ostensibly open timeframe.
This was pure pantomime being played out by cut-throat competitors locked into an eternal battle against the frequent cyclical demand downturns and yet committed to ever-increasing technology investment.
There is no roadmap, nor common budget for this initiative and IATA - a lead member of this new carbon club - must be disappointed its zero emissions goal within 50 years has been swept under the carpet, replaced by fine words about aspirations and vision.
The environment, they claim, has become an area of common interest just like the issue of safety. Only, it isn't the same. Environmental performance is becoming a key market differentiator. Safety never has been. So what is the motivation then? Boeing chief Scott Carson alluded to a new research and development funding regime in line with global trading rules.
This is about a cash call on the world's governments to return levies placed on kerosene-captive aviation with which to advance basic research and development. If this call succeeds, it will certainly make the ongoing transatlantic trade dispute over large aircraft subsidies seem increasingly irrelevant. It may even go a long way to resolving it.
Source: Flight International
