Programme Safe and competitive operations
NLR helps governmental authorities, the aviation sector and society to ensure aviation operations remain competitive, now and in the future, and to make civil and military aviation, and society, safer.
We offer insight into changes in new technologies, for safety and security for instance, and into operational concepts, organisation, regulation and safety oversight in the aerospace industry. We also propose solutions for reducing costs in aviation operations, for expanding airspace capacity and for maximising the reliability and resilience of aviation operations, within societally acceptable limits. What’s more, on behalf of the ecosystem of space companies Clean Space and Space Traffic Management (STM), we explore issues that rapidly become a priority within national and international policy.
In this programme, we develop knowledge, technologies, products and services that contribute towards
- safe aviation operations in which the risks are known and continually managed to a societally acceptable level
- a competitive aviation sector with cost efficient and resilient operations
- optimal use of the airspace in order to increase capacity in relation to operational demand
Objectives and approach
In 2030, the first step will be taken towards a different, decentralised organisation and use of the airspace. Consider, for instance, the emergence of personal air vehicles for passenger transport (to supplement/replace cars). We contribute to this development by providing methods and products that offer insights into issues around safety and costs.
In 2050, the airspace will be organised differently due to all these new users of the airspace (personal vehicles). In comparison to now, the flight technology will have changed dramatically. For example, aircraft will be powered by electricity or hydrogen and there will be unmanned flights carrying passengers and goods. We are developing technologies and methods to realise this in a safe, reliable and competitive way.
For the implementation of this programme we work together with the government, the aviation sector, and national and international research institutes and universities.