The future of civil aviation in the report of Senator Roland Courteau

What will the European civil aviation in the next thirty years? Senator (PS) Roland Courteau tries to answer in a 140-page report entitled "Face of Civil Aviation in 2040" which was commissioned by the Parliamentary Office for Evaluation of Scientific and technical choices, and that it presented last week at the Ministry of Transport.

First observation, the senator asked whether France and Europe they keep the technological edge they have in the field of civil aviation? "The Airbus A350 has been presented, France remains the world number one, but China, with the U.S., threatens this leadership", warns Senator, "and when we know that the aviation sector Civil France weighs a million jobs, the importance of being precursor "is measured. France and its European partners should absolutely invest in research so as not to be overtaken by the competition and remain at the forefront of technology, insists the senator.

"The United States, Germany, China put into overdrive" says Roland Courteau, quoted by Europe 1 radio. "While here, since 2010, funding from the Institute of French aeronautics research increased from 140 million to 60 million. It is not possible ", he laments.

Another challenge: the number of passengers will increase from 2.7 billion to 5.4 billion in 2040, twice. To carry the mass of passengers, "it will take more fuel-efficient aircraft", said the Senator, while asking these questions: "The innovations will they gradually? Or technological breakthrough? All research focuses on these topics: architecture of the aircraft, engines, materials (composite?). Since a ton of weight in less saves on the life of an aircraft, 6,000 tons of kerosene. Much is also bio kerosene ".