This year will be when net zero for aviation, or ‘jet zero’, takes off according to a regional cluster along the M3 corridor. It is a collaborative effort between trade bodies, local government and academia to accelerate decarbonisation in the aerospace sector.

Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) and Enterprise M3 LEP are among the organisations involved in the pioneering project.

The ambition is to achieve net zero aviation by 2050 and further develop technology to make the wider industry cleaner.

Alan Fisher, chief executive officer of FAC, said: “The move to a greener future is happening and we want to be at the forefront. Our country’s aerospace sector is centred in the south and south-east and we must make efforts to decarbonise.

“FAC represents many companies in the aerospace and aviation sectors, but also many in their supply chains.

“The rush to ‘jet zero’ includes many different types of business, from those making the planes and infrastructure to those making small components. Fuel is one area that is being studied closely in an attempt to reduce the emissions it produces. The weight of components and the processes and chemicals being used are all under scrutiny.

“Next year will be hugely important in the development of this new tech. Having emerged from the pandemic lockdowns, industry is now fully focused.

“The cluster involves different types of organisation who have embarked on a collaborative approach which will be the best way forward. Our aim is to help the industry prosper by going where governments, and the public, want it to go.

“This year Gulfstream completed the world’s first trans-Atlantic flight using sustainable aviation fuel. So we know it can be done.”

Involved in the cluster are 25 organisations including trade bodies, local authorities, universities and colleges.

FAC