Boeing Announces Research Project with the University of Cambridge to Further Advance Aviation Impact Accelerator

• Partnership focuses on accelerating sustainable aviation technology insights
• Commitment further advances original partnership where Boeing helped develop technology maturity assessments for AIA modelling efforts

FARNBOROUGH. Boeing announced on July 18 that they have committed to advancing their partnership with the University of Cambridge on the Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA), an international group of practitioners and academics convened by the University of Cambridge. Benefitting from its ability to draw from a multi-disciplinary range of expertise, AIA develops interactive, evidence-based models, simulations, and visualisation to tools for decision-makers and the wider engaged public to understand the pathways to net zero flight.

Through this research project, Boeing will engage in modeling pathways to a more sustainable aviation future with the University of Cambridge. The team will undertake detailed scenario-based analysis using the interactive AIA model. Boeing will help shape scenarios as the basis of the work.  

Prof Rob Miller FREng, Director Whittle Lab & AIA Lead said “We are excited that Boeing is partnering with the Aviation Impact Accelerator. Achieving an aviation sector with no climate impact is one of society’s greatest challenges and it is only through a true partnership between industry, academia, and government that we will be able to understand the whole system and accelerate change. Boeing will be a central partner in the project, joining experts from around the world in business, human behaviour, policy, as well as technology with the goal of helping better inform decision makers and the public, and driving forward the path to zero emission aviation.”

The continued partnership provides Boeing with an opportunity to leverage existing technical collaboration while increasing valuable external industry viewpoints in shaping strategy and technology development. The AIA tool will ultimately help Boeing and many stakeholders understand the implications of different policies, scenarios and technology transitions to support the aviation industry’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The outcomes and key learnings will eventually be integrated into Boeing’s Cascade model, which provides real-time visualization of carbon emission reductions in aviation, announced [July 18, 2022] at the Farnborough Air Show.  

“We are committed to ensuring the commercial aviation industry meets its net zero carbon emissions goals and preserving all the societal benefits it has to offer. It will take industry, academia and others coming together to collaborate and invest in scientific research and developments,” said Brian Moran, Boeing Vice President of Global Sustainability Policy & Partnerships. “We are grateful that the University of Cambridge shares this same sentiment and are honoured to further strengthen our partnership with them on the important work to decarbonise aviation.”

The University of Cambridge is one of Boeing’s six partner universities in the United Kingdom. Earlier this year, Boeing leaders had joined HRH The Prince of Wales at the university’s Whittle Laboratory, which also acts as a hub for the AIA, in response to his call for a global “coalition of the willing” who share the common vision around the need to accelerate global progress towards a sustainable future. Partnering across its industry to Fly Net Zero by 2050, Boeing collaborated with the University of Cambridge and helped develop technology maturity assessments for the AIA as part of getting engaged in modelling efforts.

Sir Martin Donnelly, President of Boeing Europe and Managing Director of Boeing UK and Ireland, said: “Cambridge University and the AIA are key partners with Boeing in the UK and beyond, and have a vital role to play as we work towards the decarbonization of the aviation industry. We look forward to continuing this partnership and moving towards our shared goals of a more sustainable future for aviation.”

Last year, Boeing took several actions and partnered across the industry to decarbonize aerospace, including with SkyNRG, Alaska Airlines, Etihad Airways, NASA, Rolls-Royce, and United Airlines. The company also joined the First Movers Coalition, partnering with leading companies across sectors to accelerate the development of new technologies to reduce emissions. Boeing continues to make progress through its joint venture, Wisk, which is working to bring to market the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the US, helping decarbonize transportation while enabling new business opportunities centered on Urban Air Mobility.