Cranfield University's school of engineering professor Ian Poll found his suggestion of nuclear-powered aircraft more radioactive than the reactor he envisaged last week.
His 27 October Royal Aeronautical Society lecture was about alternative fuels, investigations into which he is collaborating on as head of technology for the UK government funded Omega sustainable aviation organisation.
In an increasingly climate-conscious world with a mass media looking for lurid headlines, Poll's experience is an example of an academic's speculations leading to spectacular stories. "I've had emails from all over the world," he says. Poll admits that he has not even given the nuclear power source a lot of thought.
A lesson to be learnt is that when engaging the public, even an informed RAeS gathering, only well tested arguments that can be encapsulated in an unambiguous sound bite should be presented to the 21st century, 24/7 internet-enabled media.
Our view is that for aviation, nuclear power sources should stay on terra firma, but they have a role in providing energy in processing other fuels. The alternatives to fossil-sourced kerosene include hydrogen from nuclear-powered water electrolysis and biofuel from algae grown on atmospheric carbon dioxide.
It is not up to us to advocate them, but it is up to the likes of Poll to tell policy makers how to realise the transition to them.
Source: Flight International
