Defence organisations will not be shielded from the physical impacts of climate change, or the wider transitions currently seen across energy and society as the world responds to this issue. In an increasingly unstable world, protecting the peace and security of the UK is as critical it has ever been, and to remain effective it must ensure its people, bases and equipment are resilient to these impacts.
Contributing to the national security of the United Kingdom is a hugely important and purpose driven career, however, many school and university leavers are currently choosing their future careers based on a motivation to address the climate emergency. This podcast explores how emerging climate tech and innovation is being harnessed within defence's aviation sector to improve both the UK's ability to protect its security, whilst also improving its own sustainability credentials in parallel. It hopes to inspire talented young professionals by the positive action being taken by defence organisations and hopefully allow them to consider a career in this field, addressing both of these prominent issues.
This episode invites Professor Mark Westwood (Head of Centre for Aeronautics, School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing at Cranfield University) and Master Aircrewman Jase Hollingsworth (Youth Aviation Programme Requirements Manager, and Sustainable Aviation Lead for the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office) to explore the fourth pillar of the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy – Zero Emissions Propulsion which explores the emerging technology that is being developed to power future aviation.
This episode explores the alternative energy technologies in battery and hydrogen and where they sit in their development cycle. It then explores Project MONET, the RAFs work exploring how these technologies might apply to the RAF’s future training aircraft, and we come back to the topic of partnerships and how important they are to taking these technologies forward over the coming years.
This podcast has been developed in partnership with the Defence Suppliers Forum Aviation Sector membership. It is hosted by Hannah Swindell, Head of Sustainability for BAE Systems Air Sector, and Andrew Sweeney, Aviation Strategy Lead in the Royal Air Force’s Climate Change & Sustainability team.
21 Oct 2024
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
This episode invites Group Captain Tom Stevenson (Deputy Head of the Operational Energy Authority, Defence Support) and Phoebe Bendall (Former Senior Policy Advisor, Low Carbon Fuels, Department for Transport) to explore the third pillar of the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy - Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).
The episode explores how SAF is a significant part of civil aerospace’s plan to decarbonise the sector, and how defence cannot afford to be left behind as the civil sector transitions away from traditional fossil-derived aviation fuels. It must remain aligned with the global fuel supply chain to remain flexible in where it can operate from.
The panel also discusses some of the work being led by the Department for Transport (DfT) to help stimulate a UK SAF industry, and how the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and DfT are working in partnership together, and with others, to deliver this.
This podcast has been developed in partnership with the Defence Suppliers Forum Aviation Sector membership. It is hosted by Hannah Swindell, Head of Sustainability for BAE Systems Air Sector, and Andrew Sweeney, Aviation Strategy Lead in the Royal Air Force’s Climate Change & Sustainability team.
7 Oct 2024
Improving Fuel Efficiency
This episode invites Ana Purnell-Marques (UK & Ireland Sustainability Project Manager from Boeing) and Jay Green (Fuel Technology Analyst, Aviation Impact Accelerator from University of Cambridge) to explore the second pillar of the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy, Improving Operational Efficiency. This assesses how defence can continue to deliver the flying necessary for the UK’s security, but potentially using less fuel and resources to do so.
The guests explore the best practice that exists in civil aerospace, and how this might be relevant to defence and how it might even unlock advantages such as extended range or endurance. It considers some of the technological options such as fleet renewal, or modifications to improve aerodynamics or reduce weight. It also looks at the use of digital tools to improve the human interface.
This podcast has been developed in partnership with the Defence Suppliers Forum Aviation Sector membership. It is hosted by Hannah Swindell, Head of Sustainability for BAE Systems Air Sector, and Andrew Sweeney, Aviation Strategy Lead in the Royal Air Force’s Climate Change & Sustainability team.
23 Sept 2024
Doing Things Differently
This episode invites Toby McCann (Head of Air Solutions and Sustainability, UK Training and Simulation, Thales) and Jack Wakley (Chief Technology Officer at Malloy Aeronautics) to explore the first pillar of the Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy, Rethinking Capability Provision which is essentially asking defence to consider how it can utilise emerging technology to do things differently. Be that utilising gaming technology to increase synthetic training, satellite technology in space to provide improved sensor coverage, or the use of uncrewed systems to replace more traditional flying capabilities. Defence cannot compromise on its operational effectiveness to ensure UK security, but emerging innovation could enhance the way it does business and provide an advantage over its potential adversaries.
This podcast has been developed in partnership with the Defence Suppliers Forum Aviation Sector membership. It is hosted by Hannah Swindell, Head of Sustainability for BAE Systems Air Sector, and Andrew Sweeney, Aviation Strategy Lead in the Royal Air Force’s Climate Change & Sustainability team.
23 Sept 2024
Leading the Way
This episode invites Air Vice-Marshal Shaun Harris CBE (Director of Support and Chief Engineer for the Royal Air Force), and Steven Gillard (Boeing’s Regional Sustainability Director for the UK, Ireland and the Middle East) to explore their leadership role across defence’s aviation community, as they aim to become more climate resilient and sustainable. It will explore the vision of the Defence Aviation Net Zero strategy, and the key partnerships needed to achieve success.
This podcast has been developed in partnership with the Defence Suppliers Forum Aviation Sector membership. It is hosted by Hannah Swindell, Head of Sustainability for BAE Systems Air Sector, and Andrew Sweeney, Aviation Strategy Lead in the Royal Air Force’s Climate Change & Sustainability team.
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