The Sustainable Aviation Observatory

The green transition of air transport is no longer a mere theoretical
prospect; it has become one of the major strategic challenges of the 21st century. Faced with the climate emergency, growing societal expectations and the need to safeguard the
country’s industrial competitiveness, France must lead the sector in an ambitious, feasible and sovereign transformation.

In 2021, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) created the Sustainable Aviation Observatory (OAD) to organise knowledge, highlight the variety of potential decarbonisation strategies and encourage innovation among start-ups and SMEs.

The OAD’s work is structured around three pillars:

A digital space dedicated to the impact of aviation on the climate

In a landscape with a multiplicity of forward-looking technological scenarios for “Net Zero 2050” which
are often difficult to compare or interpret, access to clear, structured information is essential. The OAD digital space aims to support this fragmented understanding of the various assumptions, trajectories and concrete implications of the main prospective scenarios, offering a broader view of the range of positions in an inclusive manner.

Free and open to all, this space contains the latest versions of major reports and studies from sources such as the IPCC, academies, international associations, research centres, federations, industry, NGOs and think tanks. It covers several timescales (the 2030 and 2050 horizons) with a deliberately broad scope – France, Europe, and the world – to provide a global context for this transformation of the aviation sector.

By making these complex issues more accessible and structuring knowledge around a common framework, this space provides an invaluable resource for understanding decarbonisation paths, progress made and current challenges and difficulties. OAD thus provides younger generations with reliable benchmarks on an issue combining emotion, technicality and uncertainty.

Territorial meeting with the OpenAirlines start up. © DGAC

Un cycle de rencontres territoriales de la décarbonation

The vitality of French SMEs and start-ups is revealed by the acceleration of innovation in the regions. The aviation transition will not only be driven by large corporations but will also depend on the country’s ability to mobilise its vast network of SMEs, mid-caps, start-ups, laboratories, university chairs and regional research centres around the topic of “Aviation and Climate”.

This is the focus of OAD’s second pillar, dedicated to regional innovation and decarbonisation. Regional meetings identify technological solutions that are currently available via incubators or local innovation networks. New technological solutions can thus emerge and innovative players can be connected with government bodies capable of supporting their development, such as the Transport Innovation Agency, France 2030, the French Directorate for Enterprise’s Étincelles programme, and BPI France.

Hackathons facilitate creative dialogue with young people: a veritable reservoir of bold, collective intelligence, they are no longer content to stay on the sidelines, but wish to propose, experiment and contribute.

Technological and industrial sovereignty in France

In a tense geopolitical context, technological sovereignty is imperative.

The third mission of the OAD is thus to connect stakeholders around French innovation solutions driven by SMEs and mid-cap companies so as to act on the levers of decarbonisation.

This complements the work of Bpifrance, competitiveness clusters, the GreenTech ecosystem and regional clusters supporting the consolidation of sustainable, innovative and sovereign French aviation.

Examples of such solutions and innovations include Expliseat, a start-up that produces the world’s lightest aeroplane seats, reducing the weight carried on board; OpenAirlines, which uses AI and big data to design eco-piloting software that optimises fuel consumption in flight; Ascendance and Aura Aero, who are developing hybrid electric propulsion systems; and Turbotech, which designs regenerative turbines and turbogenerators for light aviation.

The OAD is evolving from an observation-based organisation into a hub and accelerator, forging links between stakeholders. This evolution stems from the firm belief that decarbonisation is not only an ecological imperative but also a historic opportunity for reindustrialisation, local innovation and technological advancement.

Conclusion: the air transport transition relies on a collective effort

The Sustainable Aviation Observatory is supporting this transformation by clarifying trajectories, promoting the visibility of territorial innovation and enhancing technological sovereignty. More than just an observatory, it is a bridge between talents and a facilitator of French solutions, serving the cause of sustainable, competitive and fully forward-looking aviation.

Article originally published in Newsletter No 140