New generation of research projects for greener, more competitive air transport

This first batch of projects will cost Euro 217 million, out of a total of  Euro 2.1 billion for aeronautics research in the years 2007 to 2013. The projects are now subject to final contract negotiations between the project teams and the Commission.

This call attracted nearly 200 proposals, with the partners from across Europe and beyond. There was particularly strong interest from Central and Eastern Europe and third countries.

The 36 proposals selected for funding include areas such as flight physics and alternative fuels to reduce CO2 emissions; new systems to improve the safety of aircraft in bad weather; advances in self repairing capabilities of aircraft materials; and blast-proof cabin structures. Other projects are focused on production and development costs of airframes, structures, engines and components.

The four largest projects will receive half of the funding. These are: DREAM (Validation of Radical Engine Architecture Systems), a project with 47 partners from 13 countries, led by Rolls Royce. It will develop new engine concepts based on open contra-rotating rotors, with a target of a 7 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and 3 decibel reduction in noise.

The Euro 25 million DREAM will develop specifications for alternative fuels, and assess and test future potential fuels also.

The Euro 40 million MAAXIMUS (More Affordable Aircraft Structure through Extended, Integrated and Mature Numerical Sizing) project involves 58 partners from 18 countries and is led by Airbus. It will focus on improving the composition and design of fuselages, to cut assembly time in half and reduce structural weight by 10 percent, with a lighter airframe leading to lower CO2 emissions

HIRF SE (High Intensity Radiated Field Synthetic Environment). Led by Alenia, this Euro 18 million project involves 44 partners from 11 countries. It will create simulators to test how new aircraft react to electromagnetic interference. More research is needed in this field because of the growing use of composite materials in aircraft building.

SCARLETT led by Thales will develop new and advanced modular avionics platforms for a range of aircraft types and will receive around Euro 23 million.