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Home Featured Ireland and the future of Aviation

Ireland and the future of Aviation

by Uma Rajagopal
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Ireland and the future of Aviation

Ahead of the Paris Air Show 2023, Shauna Higgins, VP of Engineering and Green Economy at IDA Ireland explores the current aviation landscape and what Ireland offers as a location for innovation

The aviation industry is experiencing significant change. From technological advancements, new regulation and increasing climate concerns – as well a heightened pressure to create more efficient and low-cost operations – future leaders in the aviation space have a complex environment to navigate. They will need to uncover these future aviation trends and consider the important on-the-ground considerations that are currently evolving. 

Maneuvering the high-growth sectors of today

One space that is expected to soar particularly high in the next few years is the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) sector, with the Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) predicting a market valuation of $133.5B by 2026. Within this space, the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVOTL) aircraft is of particular interest to innovators and investors. Commercially operating eVOLs offers a sustainable transport solution for moving passengers and cargo in urban areas of up to 200 miles. Recent announcements show that this may be sooner than original thought with Aeroport de Paris recently revealing that the French city is seeking to open Air-Taxi Hub for flights around the 2024 Olympics. This has emerged as a vital component in addressing transportation needs in and around cities by utilizing electric power to take off, hover, and land vertically. 

Another sector that is experiencing significant growth is the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Drone segment – in fact, soon it will be the largest part of the UAV market with expectations of its market share exceeding $34 Billion By 2029. This is due to its vast range of applications, from package delivery, infrastructure inspection, aerial surveying and mapping, mining, construction, firefighting and search and rescue missions. A EU research project – known as “EALU-AER” – is underway in Shannon, Ireland to develop, deploy and optimize this part of the unmanned flight ecosystem. The three-year project involves Irish and European partners including Shannon Group, the Irish Aviation Authority, Collins Aerospace, Dublin-based Avtrain, and Deepblue in Italy. The consortium has received funding under the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking, which aims to accelerate delivery of the Digital European Sky through research and innovation. 

With the aviation industry targeting net zero emissions by 2050, fueling aviation sustainably is a huge industry priority – and as such, this is a rapidly growing area. There are a few potential options emerging, including electrification, hydrogen power and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) which are biofuels/synthetic fuels. The key will be finding the most promising solution that can not only decarbonize the skies but also do so in a scalable and cost-efficient way. 

Fostering a world-class ecosystem

These high-growth sectors and the underlying technologies are some of the most exciting new markets of the fourth industrial revolution. To live up to consumer and investor expectations, however, the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) revolution will need to develop within a innovative and robust ecosystem where all the various moving parts are supported and advanced by the infrastructure, government, and geographical conditions. Major players with the aviation industry must analyse sites in-depth to make sure innovation and development can boom. 

Ireland already holds a unique position as the global centre for aviation finance and aviation leasing. Over 50 aircraft leasing companies are based in Ireland, including 14 of the world’s 15 lessors, with over 60% of all leased aircrafts worldwide being managed by Irish-based leasing companies. With an Irish-leased aircraft taking off every two seconds, the country is well placed d to take on a leadership position in the future of aviation. 

Shannon Airport – A Dynamic Aviation Industry Hub

To ensure the necessary technologies required for UAV and BVLOS are fully developed in the near future, testbeds are crucial to certify these vehicles and devices to demonstrates and prove the safety and management of both manned and unmanned airspace. Ireland’s Shannon Airport is important European base for many world leading MRO and global support companies, engaging in all aspects of the aerospace life cycle, including Airframe Maintenance, Engine Maintenance & Repair, Parts Manufacture & Design, Technical Recording & Legal and Teardown & Part-Out. With a 3.2km runway capable of handling all aircraft types up to and including Category 9. Shannon Airport operates 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, with no curfews, slots or noise restrictions.

Located on the Shannon Industrial Estate is Ireland’s first compete development centre and full-scale test bed, the Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI). The facility focuses on comprehensive mobility technologies that span both ground (autonomous driving, micro-mobility, smart cities, V2X communications) and air (unmanned drones, eVTOL, AAM, UTM) uses. It supports a range of parties; from individual researchers to multi-national corporations, as well as start-ups and government entities. to conceive, develop, trial, and deploy societally transformative transport solutions locally in Shannon but relative globally.

Pro-business regulatory environment 

Ireland’s environment has been carefully moulded to allow innovation to thrive. Firstly, investors are supported by regulation. Aviation investment in Ireland will be supported by world-leading aviation regulator, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). This is the European Union Safety Agency (EASA) designate agency for Ireland, with extensive links with counterparts in US, Canada, China, Russia, and 31 EASA Member States. 

Track Record of skilled talent

To make the aviation industry’s ambitions a reality, the industry will need skilled and experienced people. Ireland’s talent pool is well established for the specialist finance and legal roles required by the aviation leasing firms but it is by no mean restricted to just this. The workforce is supported by a broad ecosystem of aircraft maintenance and other specialist firms required to keep the planes in the air and to get them to customers around the world and that brings with it a requirement for highly qualified engineers, technicians and pilots. This goes hand-in-hand with the country’s excellent educational system, that is specialised in STEM subjects and is a business-focused system with inputs from industry. 

Driving green aviation 

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) will revolutionise the aviation industry, reducing the impact of shipping fuel and contributing to energy independence. Demand for SAF is growing exponentially and production is ramping up globally, as it theoretically can be produced locally in any country. Ireland is, however, expected to take part in the growth in production of SAF in the coming years due to the growth in offshore wind generation. There is a lot to play for in this space, and government engagement will be key, but there is plenty of opportunity in Ireland for the development of SAF in Ireland.

Smooth flight ahead? 

Those who are leading the aviation race are those making investment choices today. The rapid improvements in electrification, robotics, biofuel and supersonic technology, and the need for reduced reliance on carbon emissions whilst improving overall efficiencies, is not an easy task. 

All players in the value chain are competing for consistent breakthrough developments – and not only this, regulators and companies both will face new challenges during this process, particularly with autonomous eVTOLs almost here, and decisions on aircraft design certification will have a significant impact on the regulatory issues involved in operations. Companies must position themselves carefully if they hope to keep up within this increasingly competitive environment and Ireland cannot be overlooked as a major player in the game. 

 

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Uma Rajagopal has been managing the posting of content for multiple platforms since 2021, including Global Banking & Finance Review, Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune. Her role ensures that content is published accurately and efficiently across these diverse publications.