The scope of research includes the technologies, services and operations of all components of the air transport system (aircraft, airport and integration with air traffic management) from airport kerbside to airport kerbside. It excludes the non-travel aspects of the system, ticketing and ground vehicles. Six Activities are addressed:

• The greening of air transport
• Increasing time efficiency
• Ensuring customer satisfaction and safety
• Improving cost efficiency
• Protection of aircraft and passengers
• Pioneering the air transport system of the future

The aim is to:

• Strengthen competitiveness by reducing development costs, aircraft direct operating costs, improving airport and air traffic management operations and passenger comfort;


• Improve environmental impact with regard to emissions and noise;


• Improve the safety and security of the aircraft and the air transport system as a whole;


• Increase the operational capacity and safety of the air transport system

Research on air traffic management will be undertaken under the umbrella of Single European Sky (SESAR). The Commission will provide annual contributions from FP7 to the SESAR Joint Undertaking. The Commission launched a Call for Tenders on 20 December 2007 (SJU-6-2007) for a service contract to cover the development phase (2008-2013) to develop industrial working methodologies and processes for systems development and to guarantee overall system coherence. Further information on SESAR is available through the Air Transport Portal of the European Commission - SESAR, Single European Sky ATM Research.

On 20 December 2007 the European Council adopted the Regulation establishing the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) as a public-private partnership to fund integrated industrial research to develop environmentally friendly & cost efficient aircraft. Research undertaken by JTIs will be pursued outside of the mainstream workprogramme Calls for Proposals.  A new web service on the Clean Sky JTI is available on CORDIS providing news, frequently asked questions & official documents.

The 2nd Clean Sky Call is expected to open 25th November 2009, for further call information click here.

Policy Dimension

Research in support of policy involves the application of existing knowledge, the development of new knowledge, the integration of new technologies and policy measures, horizon scanning to anticipate and prepare for new challenges, and scenario testing. Air transport research is concentrated in the Transport Thematic Priority. However the interdependency between transport and other European policies means that generic research in other Thematic Priorities supports transport policy in air transport as well. In 2008 five Calls of relevance to air transport are open. Summary topic abstracts relevant to transport policy and applications are available to download. For aeronautics/air transport these exclude topics relating to security and integration with the Single European Sky Joint Technology Initiative (SESAR). The Transport Thematic Priority is also complemented by a number of other European Programmes(most with annual Calls). See the Call Roadmap

The Department for Transport takes the lead for the UK in negotiations with the European Commission on transport policy research in the Framework Programmes. Its policy objectives and research priorities are broadly compatible with those of the Commission; and it is a user of the research. To explore the context in which topics open in the current calls were identified, and to help anticipate the content of future calls, see the indicative overview of national and European policy and research drivers, the European funded Transport Research Knowledge Centre's synthesis of research funded under FP4 and FP5 (soon to cover FP6), and the Technology Platforms’ outputs.

Industrial Dimension

The industrial dimension of the work programme, particularly in relation to technological research, has been heavily influenced by the Strategic Research Agenda of the European Technology Platform, the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe. Also relevant is the Technology Platform for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (HFC). Financial assistance is available for projects that strengthen, by integrating its research efforts, the scientific and technological bases which underpin the competitiveness of the European aeronautics and space industry, and which help exploit the potential of European research in this sector with a view to improving safety and environmental protection. It is strongly recommended that you visit the websites of the Technology Platforms to obtain details of their Strategic Research Agendas (SRA) and Implementation Plans, both to obtain early warning of what topics might be within future Surface Transport Work Programmes, but also to identify how you can participate in their work and possibly influence the relevant SRA: