According to the Dutch airline industry, innovation and the development and exchange of knowledge are crucial if the Netherlands is to stay ahead of the pack internationally, while continuing to focus on sustainability. The Knowledge and Innovation Agenda presented to Minister Eurlings of Transport, Public Works and Water Management today contains numerous examples including the reduction of CO2 emissions, development of new, more sustainable (third-generation) alternative kerosene, and high-tech aircraft systems.

The Netherlands has an excellent reputation and position in the industry. Maintaining this status requires mutual cooperation from all the parties involved. In the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda, the Dutch airline industry outlines what it intends to do to maintain the leading position it has secured over the past 15 years. The following parties contributed towards drafting the agenda: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AAS), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Stork, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR), the Delft University of Technology, Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL), the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Thales, the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programmes (NIVR) and various industry-wide associations.

The agenda is ambitious and hopes to create a more competitive and sustainable airline industry. In order to achieve this, meaningful steps must be taken at a European level. Examples here include the Single European Sky project directed at shortening flight routes. Additionally, innovative ideas are being explored to enable aircraft to glide more during their approach. This will generate less noise and reduce emissions. Given the integrity of the airspace concerned, initial steps towards gliding can already be taken above France, Germany and the UK, thus increasing flight efficiency.

Other examples on the agenda include the development of an innovative pier offering quick connections between the air terminal and pier, and automatic border control. Closer cooperation between civilian and military operations will also result in less detours and delays. The industry hopes to introduce high-tech systems to make aircraft cleaner, quieter and smarter. This, for example, includes energy efficient engines and reducing friction by adjusting physical forms during flight.

The Knowledge and Innovation Agenda was commissioned by government and constitutes the industry’s answer to the desirable developments recently expressed in the Aviation Policy Document. NLR contributed towards coordinating the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda. On handing over the document to Minister Eurlings, the chairperson of the independent working group, Kraaijeveldof looked back on a fruitful and creative process: “The industry parties demonstrated their capacity to think outside the box. This generates confidence in elaborating the courses of action taken up on the agenda.” According to Minister Eurlings, by drafting such an agenda, the industry shows that “it intends to retain its excellent reputation by focusing innovative efforts over a longer period. Within this context, intensified mutual cooperation and cooperation with industry partners and government, play a crucial role.”

The airline industry is a significant driving force behind the Dutch economy and is crucial to the development the Randstad conurbation as a Global City Region. In this perspective, Schiphol serves as an excellent hub. For five consecutive years, KLM been listed as No. 1 in the airline industry on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. By drafting the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda, the Dutch airline industry partners illustrate that this driver can be both more sustainable and more competitive by joining forces to work on innovation.

Source: KLM