Its researchers plan to look at all elements of air transport, from fuel and aircraft design to airport infrastructure, air traffic control and aviation policy.
It comes a week after the government announced its ‘Flightpath to the future’ plan which is designed to help the sector recover from the disastrous impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It details how aircraft emissions can be cut, including shorter-term plans to blend 10 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into the UK fuel mix by 2030.
The research institute has been back by a £25m donation from Brahmal Vasudevan, CEO of private equity firm Creador, and his wife Shanthi Kandiah, founder of legal firm SK Chambers.
Professor Alice Gast, ICL president said: “The Brahmal Vasudevan Institute for Sustainable Aviation will focus Imperial’s world-class research, recently ranked top in the UK, on the grand challenge of low-carbon flight.
“Translating scientific breakthroughs for societal benefit is Imperial...