On June 20, the European Commission (EC) proposed a plan named Clean Sky Initiative, aimed at developing environmentally-friendly technologies to create an innovative, competitive and clean air transport system.

According to a press release from the EC, executive body of the European Union, Clean Sky is the largest aeronautical research and development plan designed by the EC, which will be fulfilled during the initial activity period of seven years (2007-2013) of the European Union's 7th Research Framework program.

Once agreed, Clean Sky will receive a total budget of up to EUR1.6 billion (about US$2.14 billion), including an EU contribution of EUR800 million (about US$1.07 billion), a sum matched by funds from the aviation industry.

The EC said that the aeronautics industry needs to make its contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to minimizing noise around airports.

Air transport is currently a relative small source of the greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming, but its share will increase in line with the build-up of air traffic. The environmental challenge requires immediate action to promote the development of clean transport technologies, the EC added.

The research is to focus on six different technical areas including new wing design, cleaner engines, innovative rotor blades, more efficient flight paths and ways to use more renewable and recycled materials.

The EC said the European aviation industry is faced with competition worldwide, both traditional competitors and new ones in emerging economies. The initiative will provide a R&D framework that is able to draw on both public and private investment and to translate into the effective and timely application of research achievements.