Editorial

AERIAL FIREFIGHTING IN CROATIA

Giustino Mancini — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:53:52 +0000

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

AERIAL FIREFIGHTING IN CROATIA

Croatia has a long and rich history of using aircraft in firefighting, given its vulnerability to forest fires, especially during the hot and dry summer months.
The Croatian military, specifically the Croatian Air Force, is the most important contributor in the firefighting efforts in Croatia, especially when it concerns fires on inaccessible locations.
The 855th Firefighting Squadron is stationed at Zadar airport in Zemunik.

The Squadron currently has 5 Canadair CL 415 aircraft, 6 AT 802 aircraft, 1 Mi-171 helicopter, 1 PC-9M aircraft and 1 unmanned aerial vehicle system "Orbiter 3" as key resources for fire protection and reconnaissance. The introduction of unmanned aircraft systems has enabled the surveillance of inaccessible areas which in turn significantly reduces the time needed to detect a fire. Also, this ability provides an opportunity to more precisely and effectively define and allocate priorities in the event of simultaneous fires in several different locations.

Fighting fires from the air is demanding and dangerous activity which requires a high level of coordination and skill and this is why the members of the Squadron follow a rigorous and thorough training syllabus.

During the firefighting season the 855th Firefighting Squadron is on standby and responds quickly to fire reports. An operational firefighting command is established in Divulje air force base in Split. This command brings together firefighters, civil protection, the army, the police and other operational forces that make up the homeland security system, which greatly facilitates the command process. The command centre is connected to 90 cameras, mainly from Croatian companies OIV – Digital signals and networks and Croatian Forests, which are used to monitor the situation in inaccessible terrain.

In 2024. the largest engagement of members of the 855th Firefighting Squadron was in August. During that month the fires were most frequent in three Dalmatian counties: 12 fires in Šibenik-Knin County, 36 in Split-Dalmatia County and 20 in Zadar County, and another 2 in Lika-Senj County, 5 in Istria County and 3 in Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

In 2024. the Squadron flew as many as 5826 times, achieved 889 flight hours, discharged 28,674 tons of water, transported 22 tons of water and 42 people, and in addition, 19,000 litres of foam and 544,503 litres of fuel were consumed.

During the off season, members of the 855th Firefighting Squadron perform regular during day and night flight training according to VFR and IFR flight rules in order to be maintain their competencies and qualifications and to be ready for challenges of the new firefighting season.

This squadron is part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (rescEU) and has, in 2024, participated in firefighting missions in North Macedonia and Greece. During the aforementioned mission, 4 pilots, 2 flight technicians and 4 aircraft technicians were deployed.

RescEU, as an upgrade of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, represents a kind of additional protection for EU citizens from large forest fires, which are increasing every year due to sudden climate change. RescEU is fully funded by the European Commission and includes a fleet of firefighting amphibious aircraft and helicopters. To assist other countries, Croatia has allocated and made available two CL-415 firefighting aircraft with two crews, to be at disposal during the firefighting season.

In order to build a permanent fleet of the rescEU mechanism, the European Commission is ambitiously investing funds in the modernization of aircraft of existing Member States. In accordance with this decision, Croatia, as one of six member states (along with Greece, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal), plans to purchase a new type of aircraft CL-515 from the De Havilland Canadair family of the Canadian corporation. Croatia has committed to purchase two new CL-515 aircraft, which will also be fully financed through European funds.

images are courtesy of the Croatian Air Force

BURDI: Advancing Drone Integration in Belgium

Giustino Mancini — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 17:55:19 +0000

Monday, July 7, 2025

BURDI: Advancing Drone Integration in Belgium

BURDI, short for Belgium-Netherlands U-space Reference Design Implementation, is a groundbreaking collaborative initiative co-funded by the European Union under the Connecting Europe Facility and supported by SESAR Joint Undertaking. The primary aim of the BURDI project is to establish a reliable, sustainable, and secure solution for integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into U-space airspace.

BURDI: Advancing Drone Integration in Belgium

By deploying reliable and efficient U-space services, the project intends to lay the groundwork for safe and sustainable integration of multiple, complex UAS missions (BVLOS) in Belgium. This initiative serves as a first step, ensuring that the implementation of U-space airspace continues to evolve and improve beyond the project's completion. This includes:

Development of U-space airspaces
Comprehensive analysis through the Air Risk Assessment (ARA)
Ensuring social acceptance via the coordination mechanism (CM)
Certification of single common information service provider (sCISP)
Certification of U-space service providers (USSP)

BURDI brings together various stakeholders, including aviation authorities, air traffic service providers, and unmanned aircraft systems traffic management (UTM) stakeholders, fostering best practices and standardization. In collaboration with the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA), the project pursues to implement the first U-space airspaces in Belgium, such as:

Geozone EBR54 – Antwerp Harbour (except overlap with the Antwerp Airport Controlled Traffic Region (EBAW CTR))
The Antwerp Airport Controlled Traffic Region (EBAW Antwerp CTR)

Belgium stands out as one of the leaders in Europe when it comes to implementing U-space. This leadership is further exemplified by the implementation of U-space airspace in the second busiest port in Europe, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, highlighting Belgium's commitment to be the forerunner in innovation and safety. In addition to the security and safety domains, great importance is also attached to the societal factor as part of the extensive nature of the coordination mechanism.

The BURDI project drives the implementation of Drone Strategy 2.0 within the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy (SSMS) by enabling safe and structured UAS integration. As the industry shifts to autonomous platforms, BURDI plays a key role in regulatory alignment and operational feasibility.

More info: www.burdi.eu

Strategical framework: Austrian overall strategy 2040+ for the aviation sector

Giustino Mancini — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:34:05 +0000

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Strategical framework: Austrian overall strategy 2040+ for the aviation sector

The Austrian overall strategy 2040+ for the aviation sector consists of the two sub-strategies Aviation Strategy 2040+ (Link) and RTI Strategy for Aviation 2040+ (Link, only in German), which together point the way to decarbonisation. Both strategies were published in autumn 2022 and since then their implementation has been one of the priorities of the BMIMI.

The Aviation Strategy 2040+ consolidates the strategic objectives and further measures based thereon within the following four thematic areas:

• Environmental/climate protection and introduction of sustainable fuels

• Integration into the overall transport system, new mobility concepts and connectivity

• Aviation competitiveness, employment and restart under fair and ecological conditions after the COVID-19 pandemic

• Digitalization, drones, innovation, and technological change

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Roadmap

With the Aviation Strategy 2040+, the BMK has identified the need for action in the areas of sustainability, environmental and climate protection and defined specific measures. The SAF roadmap is one of these measures and complements the existing aviation strategy. It was published in June 2024 and English summary is available under Link.

The SAF roadmap describes possible scenarios for the development of national and international air traffic starting in Austria. Based on this, a demand for biogenic and synthetic SAF for Austrian airports is calculated, which – even under moderate assumptions for the development of flight volumes – amounts to around 18,000 tonnes in 2025, around 58,000 tonnes in 2030, 339,000 tonnes in 2040 and 699,000 tonnes in 2050.

From today's perspective, this demand cannot be covered by nationally available raw materials due to the high demand competition from almost all other economic sectors. Furthermore, currently the necessary production facilities in Austria do not exist to fully cover the national demand for SAF, which means that SAF imports are likely to be unavoidable.

In conclusion, five focus areas with a total of 15 detailed measures have been defined. The focus areas range from creating incentives and impetus for the SAF ramp-up in Austria, ensuring availability through imports to ensuring competitiveness in aviation. Moreover, a national SAF Competence Circle was established with the aim to ensure sustainable (political) dialogue and ongoing stakeholder participation. The overarching goal of these focus areas and measures is to maximise the production and value creation potential of the Austrian research and industrial landscape.

‘Take Off’- Austrian Aviation Research and Technology Program

The Austrian Government continues to promote research, technology, and innovation in the area of aviation through the “Take Off” Austrian Aviation Research and Technology Programme. One particular focus of Take Off is the funding of strategic research projects that contribute to achieving climate-neutrality in aviation such as through sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and innovative propulsion systems based on hydrogen and electric power.

In the years 2021-2023, BMIMI has invested EUR 33 million in climate-friendly aviation technologies, of which EUR 9 million were specifically invested in SAF and hydrogen aviation.

Examples for SAF related projects are:

SAF Airlab:

With the project SAF Airlab, for example, Austria promotes a flying laboratory for SAF optimization of propulsion and reduction of emissions. The goal is to be able to use all available SAFs in the same aircraft and further execute in-flight emission measurements.

AssessSAF: Sustainability assessment of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel FT-SPK from biogenic residues and waste
Another project deals with the construction of a multipurpose SAF producing laboratory facility. The focus is on alcohol-to-jet but also HEFA, methanol synthesis and FT synthesis. Project results are expected in 2026.

ICAO symposium on non-CO2 aviation emissions

Giustino Mancini — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 16:07:46 +0000

Monday, March 24, 2025

ICAO symposium on non-CO2 aviation emissions

In September 2024, the first ever ICAO symposium on non-CO2 aviation emissions took place in Montréal. The interactive summary report and a summary of the key take-aways can be found here. This was a successful event with over 800 participants both in-person and virtually. The Netherlands was event sponsor of this symposium.

What are non-CO2 aviation emissions?

Non-CO2 emissions such as NOx, particulate matter and water vapor affect both human health and the environment. The climate effects of these non-CO2 emissions are significant, with best estimates showing that non-CO2 emissions are responsible for two-third of the historic global warming due to aviation. However, the uncertainties of the non-CO2 climate impact of aviation are large.

Non-CO2 effects include many different climate impacts. The two most prominent ones are the forming of contrail-induced cirrus and the chemical atmospheric reactions driven by NOx emissions. The Dutch policy approach on non-CO2 climate effects of aviation

In the Netherlands, we have a specific policy approach on non-CO2 climate effects of aviation. This policy approach has been developed in 2023 and consists of three pillars:

More and better research. During the ICAO symposium, researchers from around the world had the opportunity to share their latest findings. There were multiple Dutch contributions, which showcases the active research on this topic in the Netherlands.
European legislation and global standards. Non-CO2 climate effects are an international aviation issue. Therefore, countries must work together to find solutions that can be adopted globally. In Europe, a first step was taken recently. A system to Monitor, Report, and Verify non-CO2 climate effects was in traduced starting January 1, 2025.
Cooperation is key. Working together is essential to ensure that new insights from academia, the aviation sector, and policymakers are combined to improve our understanding of the problem. This symposium was an ideal platform to share knowledge from around the world.

The Netherlands chose to be event sponsor of the symposium on non-CO2 aviation emissions, because this event fully aligned with the objectives of our policy approach.

Enhancing worldwide assistance to air accident victims and their families

Giustino Mancini — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:01:48 +0000

Friday, March 14, 2025

Enhancing worldwide assistance to air accident victims and their families

Although air transport remains the safest mode of transportation, aviation accidents continue to have a catastrophic impact on society. Despite technological advancements, stringent safety standards, and rigorous training, tragic air accidents can still occur. Recognizing the importance of providing timely and adequate assistance to victims and their families, the Netherlands and ABIS countries are actively engaged in strengthening international cooperation and compliance with ICAO and EU regulations.
The ICAO Symposium on Assistance to Air Accident Victims and their Families (AAAVF2024) – held from 26 to 28 November in Haarlem, the Netherlands – brought together representatives from States, international organisations, the aviation industry, advocacy groups, and victim family associations. This article reflects on the Symposium and highlights a key takeaway: the uncoordinated communication with victims' families, which creates confusion and distress in the aftermath of an aircraft accident.

ICAO Symposium AAAVF2024 & ABIS cooperation
Capacity-building activities play an important role in strengthening States’ preparedness and response capabilities by promoting the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices. By hosting the ICAO Symposium on Assistance to Air Accident Victims and Their Families (AAAVF2024), the Netherlands underscored its commitment to this cause. The ICAO Symposium—held in Haarlem, from 26 to 28 November—brought together representatives from States, international organisations, the aviation industry, advocacy groups, and victim family associations. The voices of victims and the experiences of those affected by aircraft accidents left a profound impact on all attendees. The families of the victims shared their experiences in the aftermath of an aviation accident, where they often face an overwhelming and distressing situation, not only due to their loss but also because of the uncoordinated flow of information.

After an aviation accident occurs, multiple parties will attempt to reach out to the families of the victims. While driven by good intentions, representatives of the airlines, local health authorities and national authorities might reach out to the families of the victims in a fragmented approach. It is experienced that this approach cause unnecessary stress to an already emotional and chaotic time, as families are repeatedly are contacted by new individuals, often providing overlapping or incomplete information. Recognizing this issue, the Netherlands is actively working within ICAO and ECAC working groups to establish a more coordinated system for streamlining the communication with the next of kin.

Conclusion
Providing timely and adequate assistance to those affected by an aircraft accident is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental humanitarian responsibility. The commitment of States, industry stakeholders, and international organisations remains critical in ensuring that victims and their families receive the support, dignity, and care they deserve. The ICAO Symposium AAAVF2024 reaffirmed that a proactive and structured approach is essential to ensure that families and friends receive adequate support in the aftermath of an aviation tragedy. With ongoing efforts from the Netherlands, ABIS countries, and the wider international community, meaningful improvements in victim assistance can be achieved worldwide.

Preparing the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals

Giustino Mancini — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:50:26 +0000

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Preparing the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals

The next generation of aviation professionals must master and manage emerging technologies and also take on the responsibility of upholding and enhancing operational safety, by adopting and implementing updated industry standards, procedures, and best practices. As aviation continues to evolve, it is crucial that these professionals are well-equipped to address new challenges, anticipate risks, and also ensure a culture of continuous improvement in safety, across all aspects of the industry.

A diverse and inclusive aviation workforce is a key driver of innovation, contributing to the development of new technologies and solutions, that enhance safety. By reflecting the global nature of aviation, a diverse workforce brings varied perspectives and experiences that foster creative problem-solving and improve overall operations. To cultivate this diversity, training programs must prioritize inclusivity and create opportunities that attract and support talent from all backgrounds, ensuring that the industry continues to evolve, with a broad range of skills, ideas and views.

Aviation professionals must commit to lifelong learning, in order to stay ahead of rapidly evolving technologies, regulatory changes, and industry advancements. This commitment to continuous growth is essential in order to maintain the high standards of safety and efficiency that this increasingly complex field has. To support this ongoing development, training programs should be designed to provide aviation professionals with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to refine their skills, adapt to new challenges, and stay informed about the latest trends, ensuring they remain capable and competitive throughout their careers.

Future aviation professionals will face even more complex challenges, such as operational disruptions, global health crises, and unforeseen emergencies, that can have widespread impacts on the industry. To equip them for these unpredictable situations, training programs should focus on building resilience, adaptability, and strong ethical decision-making. By instilling these critical qualities, future professionals will be better prepared to respond effectively, maintain operations under pressure, and uphold the highest standards of safety and integrity, even in the most uncertain and dynamic environments.

Future aviation professionals must master advanced technologies that are reshaping the industry and developing a deep understanding of their ethical implications. This includes ensuring the responsible use of artificial intelligence, safeguarding data privacy, and preserving the essential role of human judgment and accountability in decision-making processes. As technology continues to evolve, it is crucial that these professionals are equipped to navigate the complexities of innovation, while upholding ethical standards that protect individuals, organizations, and society at large.

Portugal / Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority, inspired by the “ICAO Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) strategy, and other initiatives promoted at international level, has recently launched a campaign that intends to address all this issues, and more: “As Tuas Asas começam aqui / Your Wings start here” It is an initiative aimed at the student community and society in general, with the purpose of building a more sustainable, competitive, inclusive and accessible aviation sector. The main objective is to help meet the urgent challenges the sector faces, particularly those relating to the shortage of qualified human resources. There are currently 32 associated partners – including organizations and companies of the sector, public and private bodies and universities – all committed to raise awareness of the world of aviation among young people.

The focus areas of this campaign are centered around three key objectives: attracting, qualifying, and retaining top talent, as well as valuing competent professionals that are deeply passionate about their work. Professionals who have both the skillset and the enthusiasm to excel and inspire others, drive innovation, and foster a culture of excellence.

2024 ICAO Innovation Fair

Giustino Mancini — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:25:26 +0000

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

2024 ICAO Innovation Fair

The theme of the three day event was: "Digital Aviation: The Future is Now." Representatives from international organizations, the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations alike had a chance to engaged in meaningful dialogue about aviation innovation. Discussions were taking place concerning how to improve systems, procedures, and organizational structure. ICAO graciously welcomed guests from startups and research centers to come together and exchange experiences in attempting to innovate in the industry.

The council of ICAO aims to strengthen its discourse with industry leaders through the Industry Consultative Forum (ICF). The innovation Fair followed an extensive three day programme. Following administrative announcements and the opening remarks from the President of the ICAO Council, Day 1 kicked off with the Representative of Austria, Mr. Christian Schleifer, moderating the first session. Mr. Shleifer is the chairperson of the ICAO Council small group on innovation.

He quickly pointed out how innovation was one thing ICAO was never famous for, the other being gender neutrality. "We have to do something" he claimed, "there are urgent needs to make changes in aviation." He concluded his opening remarks by comparing examples of innovation in aviation. The first being "the equipment we used to cross the Atlantic" as he introduced to the audience a Sextant from the US Naval Observatory, Washington DC dated 1944 and, on a much smaller scale, a hand held multi constellation GNSS receiver.

Following this he proceeded to demonstrate the many paper documentation in the airline industry, such as paper boarding passes, which have already gone electronic. He then went on to display the other essential documentations such as physical flight crew licenses of Europe, Canada and USA, along with medical accreditation, radio-station license, ICAO maintenance license, flight log and map. As he concluded, he turned to the panelists, whom are Director Generals of Civil Aviation Authorities, and asked "Is there potential in the CAA that this can be simplified, maybe electronically?" The remainder of the fair proved that going paperless is just one simple example of innovation that can be done within this industry.

Mr Coutinho's last ANC meeting

Giustino Mancini — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 12:58:50 +0000

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Mr Coutinho's last ANC meeting

Mr Albano Coutinho was attending his last Abis meeting as former Air Navigation Commissioner (ANC), which took place in his hometown of Porto. In January 2019, the Abis office in Montreal welcomed Albano Coutinho, nominated by Portugal, as incoming member of the ANC for the Abis group.

The ANC is tasked by the ICAO Council to manage the technical work program of ICAO. It has a strong focus on measures to maintain and improve aviation safety and air navigation efficiency. The Commission is composed of nineteen members who are highly qualified and have significant experience in civil aviation. Although AN Commissioners are nominated by one or more specific ICAO Member States, they do not represent the interests of any particular state or region. Rather they are expected to act independently and to offer their expertise in the interest of the entire international civil aviation community. Albano formally took over from his illustrious predecessor, Christian Schulthess from Switzerland, on 1st April 2019. In this interview with Albano we found out a little more about his background and ambitions. He joined the Portuguese Air Force at the age of 17 and spent around 30 years in the organization, moving from the South to the North of the country, including the Azores Islands. He claims that one of his most rewarding work experience was being the CEO/Chairman of the Board of NAV Portugal. “It was a privilege to be able to put my experience, knowledge and personality at the service of a company with a workforce of around 1000 qualified professionals,” says Mr. Coutinho. He played a major role in putting the company on the right track for a full integration in the SESAR project, by negotiating the accession of NAV Portugal to the COOPANS Alliance. At the start of his journey, he stated how excited he was to be in Montreal and has since shined his positive energy on those around him. Due to COIVD-19 restrictions, Albano’s time in Montreal was partly spent remotely from his home in the famous Habitat-67. One of Montreal’s most known landmarks is a housing complex at Cité du Havre, located on the Saint Lawrence River.

Aviation Strategy 2040+

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 15:39:50 +0000

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Aviation Strategy 2040+

Climate-friendly and future-oriented aviation – An implementation strategy within the framework of the Mobility Master Plan Cover "Aviation Strategy 2040+"

The Austrian overall strategy 2040+ for the aviation sector consists of the two sub-strategies Aviation Strategy 2040+ (PDF, 331 KB) and RTI Strategy for Aviation 2040+ (only in German), which together point the way to decarbonisation according to the Mobility Master Plan 2030. Both strategies are closely interwoven in their implementation and should therefore always be considered together.

The Aviation Strategy 2040+ is the comprehensive, strategic overall concept for the air transport sector in Austria. A very wide range of topics is covered and strategic goals and measures are defined in the various areas, such as climate and environmental protection, integration into the overall transport system (intermodality), competitiveness of the business location, recovery after the covid-19 pandemic, employment and social standards, digitization, technological change and drones.

Aviation Strategy 2040+

Fostering sustainability through innovation

Anonymous — Fri, 06 May 2022 19:08:43 +0000

Friday, May 6, 2022

Fostering sustainability through innovation

Austria’s ambitious goal to make aviation climate-neutral by 2040 requires huge technological developments. The Renewable Energy Expansion Act provides the legal framework and is part of a legislative package by the European Union. It supports activities to combat climate change. To achieve these goals, Austria relies on research, innovation and technology.

‘Take Off’- Austrian Aviation Research and Technology Program

Governmental promoted research and innovation in the area of aviation has seen a remarkable upsurge over the last decade. The ‘Take Off’ Austrian Aviation Research and Technology Program supported by the Federal Ministry of Climate Action (BMK) and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) constitutes a substantial contribution. One particular focus of 'Take Off' is the funding of research projects that contribute to achieving climate-neutrality in aviation.

Ion Wind Propulsion for Flight Systems (IonAs) is one of the projects funded by the ’Take Off’ program. Under the project lead of Technical University Graz together with FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences it focuses on a new propulsion concept based on ion winds. Seeking to mitigate aviation’s environmental impact, Ion wind propulsion is of increasing significance. Not only is the technique free of pollution and noise emission yet allows aircrafts to be operated with electricity from renewable energy sources. IonAs seeks to analyze innovative ion wind propulsion and to investigate its application in aircrafts experimentally. For this purpose, the fundamental theoretical aspects of thrust generation by corona discharges and the challenges of practical implementation are being identified. With regard to the production of the collector electrode as the mechanical supporting element of the airframe, the aim is to develop a structure that combines sufficient strength with minimum weight. The high complexity of such a structure is to be countered advantageously by the methodology of additive manufacturing. Based on the results of the project, the sense of purpose of developing an environmentally-friendly aircraft with ion wind propulsion will be explored using the example of a VTOL UAV.

Another ‘Take Off’ funded project is AEROLIUS. Under the project lead of FH JOANNEUM and its partners AIRlabs, Austro Control and FACC. AEROLIUS focuses on advanced electrical rotorcraft operating low noise in urban scenarios. Air emergency services such as transport of organs, medication or blood bottles require an approach to hospital landing pads, which are situated in urban and noise sensitive areas mostly. To relieve rescue and emergency doctors’ helicopters as a costly resource Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) could be deployed. As UAS due to their different configuration show a varying noise signature in comparison to manned helicopters, information about the noise generation at the UAS and its components is needed. Where it is not possible to optimize UAS due to functional limits regarding noise anymore, complex 3D‐trajectories may play a vital role in reducing noise emissions as much as possible. In order to assess the full potential of UAS for air rescue tasks, measurements of the noise propagation of UAS in the urban environment (canyons, settlements, but also meadows) and the sound perception along the trajectory are required. Through sound level measurements on an exemplary passenger drone, sufficient data is to be collected in this project in order to assess whether a cost function for noise‐optimized trajectories for UAS can be generated.

UAS during a flight demonstration in Lilienfeld, Austria, summer 2021
Foto credit: ROBERT SOMMERAUER/Project Team

Industrial projects reducing carbon footprint

Reducing the carbon footprint is a main target for the Austrian aviation industry. Several industry driven projects address the environmental impact and support sustainable aviation. In the following, two of these initiatives involving Austrian Airlines, the Austrian Mineral Oil Company ‘OMV’ as well as Vienna Airport may be laid out in detail. While Austrian Airlines in cooperation with OMV have started production and uptake of SAF in 2022 for the first time ever in Austria, Vienna Airport now operates Austria’s largest photovoltaic system allowing it to generate one third of its power input.

OMV and Austrian Airlines are taking off with Sustainable Aviation Fuel

OMV and Austrian Airlines (AUA) are producing and using regional Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Austria. The two companies agreed on the production and fuelling of 1,500 metric tons of SAF in 2022. The sustainable fuel is produced at the OMV Schwechat Refinery by co-processing Austrian used cooking oil in the fuel production process. This approach makes the entire production chain as regional as possible and keeps transport routes to a minimum. Compared to conventional kerosene, SAF makes for a CO2 reduction of more than 80% over the entire lifecycle. One technical key advantage of the sustainable aviation fuel is that the existing infrastructure can be used for storage and refuelling. With the direct pipeline connection to the Vienna International Airport, SAF will be available for fuelling Austrian Airlines aircraft as of March 2022.

The use of 1,500 metric tons of SAF by Austrian Airlines will save around 3,750 metric tons of CO2. This compares to the CO2 emissions of 333 Vienna-London flights with a typical short to medium-haul AUA aircraft (Airbus A320). The additional costs for SAFs are financed with the support of environmentally conscious passengers. All Austrian Airlines customers can use the Compensaid platform to support flights with SAF and thus contribute to more sustainable air traffic. Austrian Airlines, which is owned by the Lufthansa group, is working intensively on cutting jet fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Lufthansa Group has pledged to halve its net CO2 emissions by 2030 and make its business CO2 neutral from 2050. Based on the strategic outlook for the aviation sector, OMV sees SAFs as an important addition to its future jet fuel range alongside conventional kerosene. OMV is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and supports its customers in reducing theirs by offering more sustainable OMV products.

Vienna Airport's push on climate protection

Vienna Airport is committed to achieve CO2 neutrality in its operation by the year 2023 despite its future growth. In order to achieve this target, Vienna Airport, among other initiatives such as energy efficiency programs and other measurements to reduce CO2 emissions, already obtains CO2-free electricity from its supplier. Vienna Airport also relies on the use of photovoltaics to secure this development in the long-term. Since 2016, Vienna Airport has operated seven photovoltaic systems. In May 2022, the eighth photovoltaic plants were inaugurated. This new plant extends over an area of 24 hectares and provides an output of approximately 24 megawatts peak. With its around 55,000 photovoltaic panels this plant is Austria's largest ground-mounted plant. The photovoltaic plants at the Vienna Airport site generates an output of around 30 million kilowatt hours of solar power per year, and thus will cover around 30 per cent of Vienna Airport’s annual electricity consumption.

The expansion of the photovoltaic systems is just one of many measures within the framework of energy-efficient environmental management at Vienna Airport. For example, the airport is increasingly focusing on e-mobility and operates an e-fleet with currently around 400 e-vehicles.

Furthermore, OMV will expand the existing supply of the district heating network by expanding the district heating hub at the Schwechat refinery. In doing so, OMV will use the waste heat from the desulphurisation plant. This is a diesel production plant with a vacuum distillation plant at the OMV Schwechat refinery and convert it into environmentally friendly district heating. The heat recovery plant will go into operation in the first half of 2022. One of the largest consumers of this new environmentally friendly district heating is Vienna Airport. Connected to a direct line from the OMV refinery in Schwechat, the entire airport site with approximately 150 buildings is supplied with CO2 free heat. This will save around 21,000 tonnes of CO2 per year in the airport system.