Somerset and Devon have won £236,000 in funding to establish a Future Flight Innovation Zone (FFIZ).
It will enhance the soaring aerospace sector in the South West, promoting a greener future for aviation.
The Future Flight Innovation Zone will be focused around two key locations; iAero in Yeovil and Exeter Airport.
It aims to bring together key stakeholders from industry, academia, skills providers, local authorities, business support organisations, and institutions including the Met Office and the Connected Places Catapult.
This vibrant ecosystem shares a unified vision of speeding up the decarbonisation of flight.
The Connected Places Catapult, a foundational participant in the FFIZ, aims to stimulate innovation and devise solutions for efficient, sustainable, and connected environments.
Through the FFIZ, technology companies operating in the aviation sector will have access to professional advice and guidance to further their progress.
Fundamental to the cause, the FFIZ will utilise the funding to offer exclusive resources for technology companies operating in this sector.
These critical resources include a dedicated sandbox with the Civil Aviation Authority, specific advice from the CAA Innovation Advisor and funding for Future Flight Testing infrastructure.
Cllr Ros Wyke, lead member for economic development planning and assets at Somerset Council, said: "It is well known that the Aerospace sector is particularly valuable to the Somerset economy, with 4,300 people directly employed in the sector with the wider advanced manufacturing supply chain employing a further 6,000 people.
"It is key to the region’s future that such high-value jobs are sustained and developed over the coming years."
Reflecting on the broader picture, Cllr Wyke highlighted the financial gains forecasted for the UK economy.
PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that if the UK fully adopts uncrewed air systems, a staggering £45 billion could be added to the UK economy by 2030.
Similarly, councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council cabinet member for economic recovery and skills, added: “Establishing a Future Flight Innovation Zone (FFIZ) in Devon and Somerset will put our region at the forefront of decarbonising of aviation and aerospace and will help us achieve our carbon net zero targets".
In alignment with the Sustainable Skies World Summit, Mr Gilbert underscored the need to ensure that air travel has a sustainable future.
The forthcoming FFIZ in Devon and Somerset is an essential pathway towards achieving that goal.
With the ongoing innovation at Exeter Airport and Exeter College’s Future Skills Centre, the FFIZ will usher in a new era in the sector.
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