Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

▸5 unchanged paragraphs

on electric aviation – a solution for short and mid-range flights

(2023/2060(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in particular Article 90 thereof,

– having regard to the Treaty on European Union (TEU), in particular Article 3(3) thereof,

Added– having regard to the Commission proposal of 16 March 2023 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (the Net Zero Industry Act) (COM(2023)0161),

Added– having regard to the Commission proposal of 14 July 2021 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (COM(2021)0559),

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 14 December 2021 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 and Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) 1315/2013 (COM(2021)0812), in particular Section 5 thereof on air transport infrastructure,

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 7 June 2018 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination (COM(2018)0435),

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 11 June 2013 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation of the Single European Sky (COM(2013)0410),

Added– having regard to the Commission communication of 29 November 2022 entitled ‘A Drone Strategy 2.0 for a Smart and Sustainable Unmanned Aircraft Eco-System in Europe’ (COM(2022)0652),

Added– having regard to the Commission communication of 9 December 2020 entitled ‘Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track to the future’ (COM(2020)0789),

Added– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’), transforming the European Green Deal goals into law,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 598/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Union airports within a Balanced Approach and repealing Directive 2002/30/EC,

Added– having regard to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC, and in particular the establishment of the Innovation Fund,

– having regard to the European Green Deal, which aims to set the EU on the path to a green transition, with the ultimate goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050,

Removed– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’), transforming the European Green Deal goals into law,

– having regard to the adoption of the Fit for 55 package and the proposals included therein, notably the proposal to increase the production and uptake of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), also known as the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative, and the proposal to revise the EU’s emissions trading systems (ETS) as regards CO2 emissions from aviation,

– having regard to its resolution of 9 May 2023 on the new EU urban mobility framework,

– having regard to its resolution of 11 November 2015 on aviation,

Changed– having regard to its resolution of 10 May 2012 on the future of regional airports and air services in the EU,EU,and its resolution of 16 February 2017 on an Aviation Strategy for Europe,

Added– having regard to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) special certification conditions SC E-19 for electric/hybrid propulsion systems,

– having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

Changed– having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism)Tourism A9-0000/2023),(A9-0438/2023),

A. whereas by 2019, emissions from international aviation had increased by 146 % compared to 1990; whereas this share is expected to grow as demand for air travel increases;

Change 1

ChangedB. whereas 50-55 % of emissions could be reduced by shifting to SAF, 30-35 % by deploying new technology,technologies, 5-10 % by optimising aircraft operation and infrastructure, and 5 % by opting for new market-based measures;

C. whereas in order to deliver the required emission reductions by 2050, 75 % of the global civil fleet will have to be replaced from 2035 onwards;

Change 2

ChangedD. whereas the case for truly clean aviation requires deeper collaborations across research, manufacturers, airlines, governments and other stakeholders; whereas a subset of the aviation industry is already active in developing advanced concepts of aircraft such as electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft;

Change 3

RemovedE. whereas small electric test aircraft of up to nine seats are already flying in various EU regions; whereas electric aircraft of up to 19 seats are planned for the late 2020s, and regional aircraft for the 2030s; whereas the first fleet of electric aircraft certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is already engaged in pilot training activities in a safe and environmentally friendly environment;

AddedE. whereas the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) is the EU’s leading research and innovation programme for transforming aviation towards a sustainable future; whereas the CAJU and EASA are cooperating on adapting the standard certification regime for a new generation of aircraft;

AddedF. whereas small electric test aircraft of up to nine seats are already flying in various EU regions; whereas electric aircraft of up to 30 seats are planned for the late 2020s, and regional aircraft for the 2030s; whereas the first fleet of electric aircraft certified by EASA is already engaging in safe and environmentally friendly pilot training activities; whereas several eVTOL models have already applied for type certification with EASA;

AddedG. whereas EASA has proposed rules for the safe operation of VTOL aircraft, which includes air taxis, and a comprehensive set of operational requirements for piloted electric air taxis, spanning across the domains of operations, flight crew licensing and rules on the air and air traffic management;

AddedH. whereas electric and hybrid-electric aviation could bolster urban and regional air mobility and connectivity, offering a whole range of innovative public transport solutions; whereas, in the meantime, plans are also taking shape for the widespread take-off of hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035;

AddedI. whereas electric and hybrid-electric aviation will improve competitive travel times over shorter distances through faster transfer; whereas electric aircraft will carry fewer passengers in small airplanes, which means less time spent on boarding and ground handling;

J. whereas the EU is witnessing rapid development in battery technology in terms of both production volumes and development expenditure;

Change 4

RemovedG. whereas the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) is the EU’s leading research and innovation programme for transforming aviation towards a sustainable future; whereas the CAJU and EASA are cooperating on shaping a horizontal standard certification regime for a new generation of aircraft;

AddedK. whereas the success of highly complex research and development projects in the field of clean aviation directly depends on financial and political support, including that of the EU institutions and the Member States; whereas multiple alliances on clean aviation have been formed, such as the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation (AZEA), which are currently working on project pipelines, but need effective EU support; whereas public incentive for these projects is key in attracting private investment;

RemovedH. whereas the success of highly complex research and development projects in the field of clean aviation directly depends on financial and political support, including that of the EU institutions and the Member States;

AddedL. whereas Member State investments in the electricity supply of stationary aircraft will be needed in the upcoming years in order to comply with the targets set out in Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, which could become a stepping stone towards the future deployment of charging infrastructure for electric aircraft;

RemovedI. whereas electric and hybrid aviation could bolster urban and regional air mobility, offering a whole range of innovative public transport solutions;

AddedM. whereas the carbon footprint calculation of electric and hydrogen-powered aviation needs to be based on its entire life cycle, including the source of energy production and battery manufacturing;

RemovedJ. whereas electric aviation will improve competitive travel times over shorter distances through faster transfer; whereas electric aircraft will carry fewer passengers in small airplanes, which means less time spent on boarding and ground handling;

AddedN. whereas although the aviation sector has had a sharp reminder of its vulnerability to pandemics, geopolitics and economic shocks, it has proved its key role in keeping the supply chain uninterrupted, especially for essential goods;

RemovedK. whereas the aviation sector has had a sharp reminder of its vulnerability to pandemics and economic shocks;

AddedO. whereas green and digital skills in technical education and expertise, such as aviation technology and engineering, science and mathematics, are vital for the sustainable development of aviation, and create attractive jobs for young people;

AddedP. whereas safety must remain the number one priority in aviation;

Benefits of aircraft electrification

Change 5

Changed1. Observes the importance of regional airports in the Union for short and medium-range electric flight operations; highlights the potential of regional airports as multimodal innovation hubs and of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout the whole supply chain, benefiting research and competition not only in the aviation sectorsector, but also in other transport sectors such as road, maritime and rail; asks the Commission, therefore, to affirm its financial support for regional airports, especially those that are active in the field of electric aviation;

Change 6

Changed2. Is convinced that cleaner, faster and more convenient air transport options would increase connectivity and accessibility in smaller, more isolated and sparsely populated areas, including island regions and the outermost regions, and particularly in terms of access to public services, the creation of job opportunities and more sustainable tourism;

Change 7

Removed3. Stresses that, when faced with geographical barriers, the time saved using electric flights as a new means of public transport that does not rely on existing roads or rail tracks can be considerable; refers to the experience of the Nordic countries, which combine geographies characterised by fjords, lakes and mountains, a low population density and a strong focus on sustainable energy; asks the Commission to explore this potential in close cooperation with the relevant regions and Member States;

Added3. Notes that the outermost regions will be difficult to connect to Europe’s mainland via electric aviation owing to their remoteness and the limited battery capacity of the aircraft; highlights, however, the potential of electric aviation in ensuring connectivity between the outermost regions, contributing to their development and partially alleviating the negative consequences for their economy resulting from their difficult topography; stresses the need for financial, substantive and technical support for the peripheral regions in order to ensure that the infrastructure necessary for the fast and reliable charging of batteries, the servicing of eVTOL aircraft and the training of highly qualified technicians and operators develops at an appropriate pace;

Removed4. Notes that the outermost regions will be difficult to connect to Europe’s mainland via electric aviation owing to their remoteness and the limited battery capacity of the aircraft; highlights, however, the potential of electric aviation in ensuring connectivity between the outermost regions, contributing to their development and partially alleviating the negative consequences for their economy resulting from their difficult topography;

Added4. Stresses that when faced with geographical barriers, the time saved using electric flights as a new means of public transport that does not rely on existing roads or rail tracks can be considerable; refers to the experience of the Nordic countries, which combine geographies characterised by fjords, lakes and mountains, a low population density and a strong focus on sustainable energy, and of the outermost regions, which are characterised by their insularity, remoteness, small size and difficult topography and climate; asks the Commission to explore this potential in close cooperation with the relevant regions and Member States;

Change 8

Changed5. Considers that the electrification of regional aviation could make previously abandoned routes economically viable, improving connectivity, boosting regional development and attracting new regional investment; underlines the credible prospects of hybridisation in view of the regional aviation constraints related to the autonomy and number of passengers;

Change 9

Removed6. Highlights that aircraft with electric engines cause close to zero operational and noise pollution, meaning that no local emissions are created that could adversely affect the health of citizens living close to airports;

Added6. Reiterates the Commission’s vision that eVTOLs, as expressed through the Commission’s Drone Strategy 2.0, are set to become a staple of passenger transport by 2030, becoming integrated into existing transport systems and contributing to the decarbonisation of the EU, while minimising any adverse environmental impacts; highlights the fact that, despite the rapid technological developments in eVTOLs, they are currently still limited to six seats, while fixed-wing electric aircraft are already able to carry more passengers on both existing and new urban air routes; calls on the Commission to differentiate between the two possibilities as they use different technologies and serve different markets; is convinced that both eVTOLs and fixed-wing electric aircraft must be seen as complementary forms of new urban air mobility;

Removed7. Argues that the substantial needs related to the replacement of the civil fleet represent not only a challenge but also a major market opportunity that could lead to new jobs and skills for the whole transport sector in Europe;

Added7. Highlights that aircraft with electric engines cause close to zero operational pollution, meaning a reduction in local emissions that could adversely affect the health of citizens living close to airports; considers, therefore, that low-decibel airplanes, in particular, should benefit from simplified procedures to obtain noise-related permits or derogations from flight restrictions; stresses that noise reduction achieved through low-decibel electric aviation can improve the situation of some airports and nearby residential areas;

Removed8. Strongly believes that electric and hybrid aircraft could offer new possibilities for urban mobility; welcomes the work undertaken by EASA on vertiports and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft intended to be used as air taxis, as well as its work on the design of the necessary ground infrastructure for safe urban air mobility operations;