Building the European Aerospace Science Base Keith Hayward

The Council of European Aerospace Societies Building the European Aerospace Science Base Keith Hayward 25 years of The Council of European Aerospace Societies Building the European Aerospace Science Base 25 years of CEAS Contents CEAS President: Introduction 4 Prof Christophe Hermans Origins of CEAS 7 Author: Prof Keith Hayward CEAS – Five themes build a history 10 Design and Typesetting: 1. Meeting the needs of a European aerospace industry 10 Wayne J Davis 2. Disseminating knowledge: the CEAS Aeronautical Space Acknowledgements: Journals and Conferences 12 Emma Bossom, Chris Male, 3. CEAS and European Aerospace Research Co-operation 15 Cornelia Hillenherms, Fred Abbink 4. Educating the next generation of engineers and technologists 17 Publisher: 5. Creating a wider international community 22 The Royal Aeronautical Society for CEAS www.ceas.org Cover credits: ESA, BAE Systems, Dassault Aviation, Rolls-Royce, mariusz-prusaczyk, Heathrow, NATS. 3 Introduction The Council of European Aerospace Societies role in stimulating and disseminating aeronautical (CEAS) is an international non-profit association and space research in Europe and in linking the dating back to 1993. Its primary aim is the Continent to a global scientific and technical development of a framework for encouraging community. It has also become a key element in co-operation between the major aerospace encouraging and supporting future aerospace societies of Europe. Today it comprises 13 full scientists and engineers and building an effective Member societies: 3AF(AAAF) (France), AIAE science and technology base for European (Spain), ALDAA (Italy), DGLR (Germany), FTF industry. (Sweden), HAES (Greece), NVvL (The Netherlands), PSAA (Poland), RAAA (Romania), RAeS (United The European aerospace industry Kingdom), SVFW (Switzerland), TsAGI (Russia) and CzAes (Czech Republic); and six Corporate and its importance to the European Members: ESA, EASA, Eurocontrol, EUROVIA, LAETA economy (Portugal) and VKI (Belgium). Furthermore, CEAS To possess a world-class aerospace industry is has memoranda of understanding (MoU) with to lay claim to a place in one of the highest value ICAS (International Council of the Aeronautical manufacturing sectors. With a hundred-plus year Sciences), AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics history, aerospace may have the appearance and Astronautics), AAE (Air and Space Academy), of a mature industry but many countries still CSA (Chinese Society of Astronautics), KSAS want to develop the capability to design and (Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space to manufacture air and spacecraft. If this is Sciences), EREA (Association of European too ambitious an objective, many others want Research Establishments in Aeronautics) and a piece of the action by joining a global supply EASN (European Aeronautics Science Network). chain, producing high-quality, high-worth parts Collectively the 13 CEAS Member Societies have and components. To achieve even a modest over 34,000 members. aerospace capability depends upon the quality of However, a bold statement of aims and objectives the scientific and technological base that sustains and a list of prestigious partner organisations design, development and production, as well as hides a more complex and fascinating purpose the increasingly valuable aerospace after-market and history. CEAS plays an increasingly important for high value services. 4 Airbus A valuable European capability aircraft sales alone up to 2030 is estimated to be Below: Organisations in the region of US$5.2tn. Europe can confidently with which CEAS has Europe has this much-prized capability. Second expect to win at least half of this business. a memoranda of understanding. only to the US in the total range and scope This strong position of strength translates into of its aerospace industry, Europe is its equal a significant surplus in the European Union’s in civil aircraft, satellites, rocket launchers, overall trade balance; Europe can boast of few tactical missiles and helicopters. It has a high other industrial and technological areas in such a degree of independence and autonomy in other favourable position. military aerospace sectors. European engine and The EU Commission has recognised the equipment companies supply into a global market. importance of aerospace in the region’s economic Five of its leading companies are in the global top and technological future in a number of recent ten. policy documents. In recent years, space has According to the European Aerospace and received special attention, as the EU has assumed Defence (ASD) industries trade association, the responsibility for formulating a strategy for the European aerospace industry generates a turnover sector. Aerospace has an important place in the EU of €140.5bn and employs 534,621 people in over Horizon 2020 research programme. The European 3,000 companies and 80,000 suppliers, many aerospace industry is leading technological The European aerospace industry generates a turnover of €140.5bn and employs 534,621 people in over 3,000 companies and 80,000 suppliers of which are small and medium sized enterprises innovation in several areas, in particular in (SMEs). Civil aviation, space, defence and security the technologies needed to meet ambitious are crucial sectors, contributing strongly to the environmental and energy efficiency targets. attainment of many of Europe’s key socio-economic European aerospace companies are partners in goals. Together, these industries ensure several EU flagship research programmes, including highly-skilled jobs, and foster Europe’s knowledge CleanSky and SESAR. These collective efforts all economy through massive R&D investment (the contribute towards meeting European and global European aerospace industry invests €16bn per environmental objectives. annum in R&D). The European aerospace industry, At a wider political and strategic level the especially the civil sector, is also an important preservation and development of a powerful core exporter, again benefiting the European Union of European aerospace capabilities has critical (EU) economy in terms of jobs and economic implications for European defence and security. development. Ensuring state-of-the-art aerospace capabilities in The world market for aerospace goods is Europe will provide a degree of military autonomy expected to grow rapidly over the next decade. and freedom of action in world affairs, as well as According to Airbus forecasts, the value of civil fulfilling its international obligations. 5 The global challenge Aerospace – a cutting-edge But none of this can be taken for granted. Traditional technological sector competitors in North America are looking towards Despite its long history, aerospace is still on the cutting the next generation of civil and military aerospace edge of science and technology. Aerospace can be products. The US clearly outspends Europe in viewed as a group of industries, comprising inter alia military aviation and some areas of space. Catching structural engineering, propulsion, electrical and up fully here may prove impossible but it will still be mechanical engineering, electronics, computing and vital to maintain an edge in some of the emerging several other discrete areas of activity. In turn, these new technologies, especially as there is still an elements draw upon a wide range of technologies and overlap between civil and military competencies. basic scientific principles, mainly but not exclusively Similarly, there are complex technological links from the physical and engineering disciplines. It between aerospace and other industrial sectors follows that most of its products – certainly the core that, over time contribute generally to the benefit ‘platforms’ and ‘sub systems’ of civil and military of economic progress throughout the European aircraft – are individually of ‘great systemic complexity’. economy. This includes the development of a range Despite advances in design and development of innovative technology-based services with a techniques, bringing an aerospace product to market societal impact well beyond aerospace and aviation. entails a long and uncertain iterative process, Equally important, and perhaps even more so where continual support from the science and for European supplier companies, Russia, China, technology base to solve continuing problems is Japan, Brazil and several others have ambitions to vital. For example, Rolls-Royce’s engines incorporate develop world-class aerospace industries. For some, the output of eight separate technological strands, such as Russia, it’s a case of rebuilding a once including thermodynamics, aerodynamics, heat moribund Superpower military industry. For others, transfer, combustion, structures, materials’ such as China, it is motivated to stake a claim as an manufacturing processes, instrumentation and emerging super power. In recent years, both Russia controls. As aerospace evolves, there will be a and China have made impressive steps to modernise need for still more complex technological inputs their aerospace capabilities, both civil and military. including advanced information technology and Security and prestige interests may drive these cyber-dependent concepts. ambitions but all of these new challengers also want To defend and increase Europe’s aerospace a share in the economic value of aerospace. capabilities, continued investment in research and technology acquisition will be essential. Areas such CEAS’s first Council Meeting held in Brussels on 6 December 2006. From as unmanned

Load more