Southampton professor champions zero carbon aviation challenge
Professor Ian Williams from the University of Southampton has underlined the merits of sustainable global travel in adding his support to the quest for the first transatlantic carbon free flight.
The Freedom Flight Prize led by Carbon Footprint Ltd has challenged the aviation industry to complete a return trip from London to New York in a 100+ seater passenger aircraft whilst releasing zero carbon emissions.
Professor Williams, from Southampton’s School of Engineering, will share his expertise and support the judging of the prize as part of initiative’s newly announced Technical Panel.
The Freedom Flight Prize fund is being supported by a growing number of sponsors and is expected to be worth millions of pounds by the time it is won.
ZeroAvia (based in the USA and UK), Okulu Aerospace (based in India) and The ePlane Company (based in India) have already registered as the first contenders with proposed solutions focused on hydrogen and electric based propulsion systems.
Many other organisations from across the world have expressed interest in the prize and are expected to enter over the coming months.
Professor Williams says: “Many people relish the opportunity to travel around the world to see new places, make new friends, experience new cultures and broaden the mind. International travel is exciting and fun. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that technologies such as video and web conferencing can bring us all together but it isn’t quite the same as ‘being there’.
“This is why the Freedom Flight Prize is so important and why I am involved in the initiative. The development of zero carbon aviation will not be easy. There will be many challenges on the way and, of course, we still need to address sustainable tourism. If it can be achieved, the prize of sustainable global travel will be potentially life-enhancing for all of us, without further damage to our environment.”
Freedom Flight Prize’s Technical Panel is chaired by Dr Wendy Buckley. Professor Williams is joined by Dr Bobby Sethi, hydrogen fuel and aviation expert from Cranfield University; Karl Young, expert in Electric and Hydrogen Powered aircraft from Washington, USA; and Miles Thomas, Head of Sustainability & Planning at Farnborough Airport.
John Buckley, Managing Director of Carbon Footprint Ltd and Freedom Flight Prize says:
“Freedom Flight Prize is thrilled to have its initial line up of contenders all with slightly different solutions and set to revolutionise the aviation industry. It’s also fantastic to see the first business sponsors getting behind the project as a really responsible way to help meet global carbon reduction goals.
“We are delighted to welcome our excellent Technical Panel team with a diverse range of skills spanning aerospace, technology, climate change and logistics that will all affect and challenge aviation decarbonisation.”