Tracking a Flight Path to a Green Aviation Future

Tracking a flight path to a green aviation future

Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, generating around 14% of transport emissions—second only to road transport. It is also one of the world's hardest-to-decarbonize industries. Unlike conventional jet fuel, hydrogen produces no direct carbon dioxide emissions during operation and, when generated from renewable energy sources, has the potential to transform the sector.

‘Urgent’ government support needed to help UK aviation meet net zero by 2050

A sustainable aviation body has urged the government to support decarbonisation efforts or risk increasing costs for air passengers

Farnborough 2026 – UK CAA publishes its regulatory roadmap for hydrogen adoption to 2050

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has published its UK CAA Hydrogen Challenge Hydrogen Aviation: A Regulatory Roadmap to 2050. This report sets out how the UK can enable the safe, timely and scalable introduction of hydrogen powered flight. It has been developed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as part of the Hydrogen Challenge with input from a range of stakeholders. The roadmap supports UK decarbonisation policy objectives, including the delivery of net zero UK aviation by 2050, by setting out the regulatory sequencing and evidence required while reflecting the CAA’s core role: protecting people and enabling aerospace through proportionate, evidence-led safety regulation. To support consistent planning, the regulatory roadmap is structured around three “maturity-based time periods”, starting from the current day, which are used in the report: Demonstrate (2026-2030): Trials, demonstrations and evidence generation using small or modified aircraft under controlled conditions, with both low and highpowered propulsion systems 1MW. Early aerodrome activity focuses on initial GH₂ refuelling trials at selected sites. Activity is enabled through the Hydrogen Challenge programme with evidence informing regulatory gap assessments, early Special Conditions (SCs) and draft guidance developed in parallel. Prove (2030-2035): Repeatable certification, operational and infrastructure frameworks are developed and applied to support initial, limited commercial operations on suitable routes and aerodromes. Hydrogen specific regulatory material and guidance are consolidated, and aerodrome arrangements mature toward more standardised, business as usual approaches. Scale and sustain (2035 onwards): Hydrogen aviation is embedded within routine regulatory oversight and operations, aligned with technology maturity, aerodrome investment cycles and wider energy system readiness. Training, emergency response and oversight become established as normal activities, supported by stable domestic frameworks compatible with international obligations. For more information https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-publications/publications/documents/content/cap3284c/

Flying Fuel Cell: MTU Aero Engines achieves important milestones

MTU Aero Engines has made significant progress in developing its Flying Fuel Cell™ (FFC) and remains on track: after successful testing of the central hydrogen and air supply systems, the first integrated demonstrators are now entering the next phase. At the same time, MTU and Airbus are industrializing the revolutionary engine technology. MTU is also working with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to create the conditions for its approv…

Could hydrogen fuel bring aviation to a net zero future?

Researchers are investigating hydrogen fuel for aviation. Image: Yingyaipumi- stock.adobe.comGreen hydrogen could be the fuel that takes aviation into a future where net-zero emissions exist. This is the proposition an international research study has been investigating, resulting in the release of a plan to move the commercial aviation industry towards a greener future. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, aviation is second only to road trans…