NASA Logo

Greener Aviation

To meet U.S. and international climate objectives and to ensure long-term aviation market sustainability, it is critical to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment. As greenhouse gas neutral solutions proliferate towards the global aviation target of net-zero emissions by 2060, sustainable aviation fuels, more efficient aircraft, improved operational efficiency advancements, and utilizing international aviation approved offsets methods (such as CORSIA - Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme and particulate matter emissions guidance) collectively enable greenhouse gas neutral flights.​

Principles & Aspirations

Achieve Scalable, Secure Digital Aviation SystemAssure Safety as Operations Diversify and GrowAssure Safety as Operations Diversify and GrowDesign for SustainabilityEnsure Equitable Operational Diversity and Services

Capabilities

Cooperative and Coordinated Digital Flight

A capability of cooperative and coordinated flight operations founded on a platform of secure digital information exchange, distributed authority, and intelligent onboard automation for flight path management in four dimensions (lateral, vertical, & time) to promote ubiquitous, safe, seamless, and efficient airspace utilization for all operators and with flexible architectures that enable operators to achieve their unique and diverse mission objectives with minimal restriction.

Operate From Anywhere

A substantial expansion of the locations and operational conditions under which vehicles can access the National Airspace System, including expanded use of the nation’s existing uncontrolled aerodromes and flexible creation of new temporary and permanent aerodromes with minimal required permanent infrastructure, and support for low-visibility and high demand operations.

Intelligent and Adaptive Automation

Collective learning and dynamic information processing that augments operations and optimization of shared resources, with built-in resilience through intelligent and adaptive automation and applications, such as enhanced weather forecasting and predictive routing efficiency.

In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance

A broad range of safety systems that proactively mitigate risks and demonstrate innovative solutions while ultimately ensuring safety to the community on the ground and in the airspace, employing services, functions, and capabilities that perform comprehensive monitoring and communication of the aviation system state, assessment of elevated risks, and mitigation actions to assure safety.

Micro-Services for Flight Operators

A diverse marketplace of appropriately authorized service providers distributed throughout the aviation ecosystem supporting flight operations with a wide range of micro-services to meet the varied needs of each operator in the local airspace.

Data and Decision Support Marketplace

A data-and-reasoning fabric providing an open virtual ecosystem of secured software infrastructure, tools, protocols, governance and policies to implement, manage and operate data sharing and reasoning services across the entire span of mobility for real-time decision support.

Digital Airspace

A capability of airspace and air traffic management founded on a platform of digital information and automation to promote safe, seamless, and flexible airspace utilization for all operators and considers airspace constraints dynamically by digital means to ensure system performance and safety.

Communities

We envision two community groups, day of use and contributing. Contributing stakeholders perform research, development, and implementation to ensure the day of use stakeholders are successful.

Day of Use Stakeholders

  • End Users
  • Flight Operators
  • Safety and Standards

Contributing Stakeholders

  • Flight Operators
  • Manufacturers
  • Safety and Standards
  • Infrastructure
  • Government
  • Aviation Associations
  • International Associations
  • Professionals

Success Scenario

Planning

  • A travel customer enters a request for a greenhouse gas neutral flight, offering their flexibility on travel time to help benefit the environment.

  • Operators access greenhouse gas footprint information provided by the Data and Decision Support Marketplace following accredited sustainability standards and metrics reporting.

  • The operator responds to the customer with the travel options, and using Intelligent and Adaptive Automation, proposes the most environmentally friendly flight consistent with forecast weather conditions and the traveler’s preferences. The customer books the flight.

Operation

  • The operator uses Micro-Services for Flight Operators to develop a greenhouse gas neutral operations plan that includes logistics for sustainable aviation fuels, vehicle efficiency metrics, operational efficiency for the targeted route, and any necessary approvals or offset methods.

  • En route, the end user is notified of any changes to the operational plan that may impact the greenhouse gas neutral plan. The operator uses Cooperative and Coordinated Digital Flight to re-optimize the flight based on real-time weather information. En route safety is facilitated by In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance. 

Success

  • The customers’ transportation needs are met, and the certification of the greenhouse gas neutral flight achieved.

  • Successful greenhouse gas neutral flights promote development of more green route availability. Offset investments may contribute to the further greening of aviation towards additional goals, such as local particulate emission reductions and overall aviation net-zero emissions by 2050, enabling sustainable aviation for healthier and happier local communities.

Research Questions

Help us identify research questions to guide further exploration.

Barriers

Help us identify barriers to describe obstacles we will need to address.

We need your input.

We are actively looking for feedback relative to this Use Case. Let us know if our description, vision, capabilities, communities, or success scenarios can be further refined.