Boeing teams up with MIT scientists

Boeing is partnering with scientists of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to find new ways to reduce carbon emissions from aviation. The goal of the new collaboration is to quantify the systems-level impacts of potential approaches in order to reduce the carbon emissions from aviation.

The three-year project called Pathways to Sustainable Aviation was announced at the Farnborough International Airshow. In Boeing’s view, teaming up with important technology institutes such as MIT is the key to the challenges aviation faces. Engineering.com reports that Brian Yutko, Boeing’s vice-president and chief engineer of sustainability and future mobility, regards climate change as “one of the greatest challenges of our time for our industry and world.” "Our common goal is to enable the societal benefits of air transportation while reaching zero climate impact on our planet. To make that a reality, we believe it is best to learn and share our findings broadly, based on a foundation of data, scientific research, and collaboration, as we work together to decarbonize aviation."

“Addressing how the aerospace industry reduces its environmental footprint is critical to the future of air travel,” said John Hansman, director of the International Center for Air Transportation at MIT. Findings from this research will be integrated into Boeing’s ‘Cascade’ model, which visualizes carbon emission reductions in real time based on four levers: fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, renewable energy sources and advanced technologies.