Public Funding for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited

Based at Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Islands, the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) is the UK's first low-carbon aviation test centre embedded at a commercial airport. SATE brings together an international consortium of industry partners, public sector bodies and academia who will work with a range of regional businesses and stakeholders to apply state-of-the-art aviation technology to deliver targeted economic growth. SATE's overarching objectives include: * Demonstrating the next generation of air services * Ensuring airports operations are ready to support sustainable aviation requirements * Improving regional connectivity * Supporting Scottish Government's ambition for a Highlands and Islands Net Zero Aviation region by 2040 SATE has already established itself at the forefront of future aviation. Recent successes include Ampaire demonstrating the first hybrid-electric flights in Scotland and Windracers trialling autonomous flights for delivering Royal Mail cargo between Kirkwall and North Ronaldsay. These practical outcomes have raised the profile of SATE, putting the project on the global stage. SATE will now expand to create the UK Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Regional Aviation Systems, enabling pre-commercial demonstrations of novel aviation technologies with proven use cases to commercialise clean innovation in a real-world environment. Use cases will include: * Scheduled airline routes * Offshore energy services * National Health Service activities * Island / remote region deliveries * Environmental survey and inspection Implementation of these will require advances in technology, regulation, and policy. These are reflected in the cross-cutting activities which include: * Establishing a dedicated test environment airspace * Matchmaking technology to community and business needs * Accelerating technology innovation * Mapping out the future Highlands and Islands aviation system Kirkwall Airport is one of eleven airports operated by HIAL and an ideal test environment location due to the variety of operated routes (including short hops to inter-island airfields operated by Orkney Islands Council). The wider project team includes leading technology developers ZeroAvia, Windracers and FlareBright. EMEC brings expertise in green-hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, and HITRANS will lead on connectivity into the wider transport system. The socio-economic impact of a new regional-aviation system will be supported by UHI, Connected Places Catapult (CPC) and Aracadis. This project will also stimulate inward investment and supply chain growth which is a key responsibility for Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Project highlights will include working with the CAA to approve a regional sandbox airspace, establishment of a UAV hub-and-spoke delivery network, a first hydrogen-propelled regional-aircraft flight and an international demonstration flight to Norway.

HEART (Hydrogen- Electric and Automated Regional Transportation) is a programme that will demonstrate a viable regional transport network that is zero carbon, affordable, scalable and safe. It is aimed at sub-regional aviation (typically using 9-19 passenger aircraft, with circa 100 licensed airfields around the UK) with an objective to enable a commercially viable, innovative and eco-friendly network that provides a passenger experience giving door-to-door travel options, improved convenience, flexibility and travel information along with visibility of carbon footprint. The HEART programme will create a compound demonstration and vision of a 'Day-in-the-life' of a deployed network, culminating in flight trials utilising aircraft with hydrogen-electric powertrain, autonomous pilot control and support systems, as well as other key technologies that better account for the needs of travellers and support them throughout their journey. The HEART programme will address the following key areas: * Aircraft with hydrogen fuel cell and electric powertrains and on-board automation in order to significantly reduce cost of operations and help improve operational reliability. * Implementation of green hydrogen infrastructure (production storage and refuelling) with consideration of transport and distribution solutions, along with developing a skilled workforce to operate and maintain the infrastructure and aircraft. * Use of aircraft control automation, including pilot assistance pilot during high workload; enabling higher operational safety and scalability. * Use of hybrid connectivity solutions to assist in datalink operation, mission critical communication, as well as providing in-cabin passenger services. * Integration of the HEART network with other transportation modes through mobility-as-a-services solutions to enable fast transfers across new and legacy transport modes. Dynamic in-journey support to simplify and smooth the travel experience. * Use of autonomous ground systems to 'guide' aircraft, automate baggage and cargo loading/unloading and handle refuelling operations, increasing operational safety, reducing operating costs and enabling scale-up of operations. * New, low-cost, modular and scalable airport terminal technology concepts brought to life through simulation, modelling and technical demonstrations to demonstrate enhanced passenger experience. * Understanding and addressing societal concerns such as safety of hydrogen-electric powertrains, dependence on new levels of automation and technologies. These facets of demonstration, simulation and analysis will be brought together in a compound narrative called the 'HEART Mosaic' to show the full 'Day in the Life' picture of the network operation, which will be published through various media and engagement methods to show the journey HEART has taken, and how it will develop to serve people in the future.

Based at Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Islands, the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) is the UK's first low-carbon aviation test centre embedded at a commercial airport. SATE brings together an international consortium of industry partners, public sector bodies and academia who will work with a range of regional businesses and stakeholders to apply state-of-the-art aviation technology to deliver targeted economic growth. SATE's overarching objectives include: * Demonstrating the next generation of air services * Ensuring airports operations are ready to support sustainable aviation requirements * Improving regional connectivity * Supporting Scottish Government's ambition for a Highlands and Islands Net Zero Aviation region by 2040 SATE has already established itself at the forefront of future aviation. Recent successes include Ampaire demonstrating the first hybrid-electric flights in Scotland and Windracers trialling autonomous flights for delivering Royal Mail cargo between Kirkwall and North Ronaldsay. These practical outcomes have raised the profile of SATE, putting the project on the global stage. SATE will now expand to create the UK Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Regional Aviation Systems, enabling pre-commercial demonstrations of novel aviation technologies with proven use cases to commercialise clean innovation in a real-world environment. Use cases will include: * Scheduled airline routes * Offshore energy services * National Health Service activities * Island / remote region deliveries * Environmental survey and inspection Implementation of these will require advances in technology, regulation, and policy. These are reflected in the cross-cutting activities which include: * Establishing a dedicated test environment airspace * Matchmaking technology to community and business needs * Accelerating technology innovation * Mapping out the future Highlands and Islands aviation system Kirkwall Airport is one of eleven airports operated by HIAL and an ideal test environment location due to the variety of operated routes (including short hops to inter-island airfields operated by Orkney Islands Council). The wider project team includes leading technology developers ZeroAvia, Windracers and FlareBright. EMEC brings expertise in green-hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, and HITRANS will lead on connectivity into the wider transport system. The socio-economic impact of a new regional-aviation system will be supported by UHI, Connected Places Catapult (CPC) and Aracadis. This project will also stimulate inward investment and supply chain growth which is a key responsibility for Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Project highlights will include working with the CAA to approve a regional sandbox airspace, establishment of a UAV hub-and-spoke delivery network, a first hydrogen-propelled regional-aircraft flight and an international demonstration flight to Norway.

HEART (Hydrogen- Electric and Automated Regional Transportation) is a programme that will demonstrate a viable regional transport network that is zero carbon, affordable, scalable and safe. It is aimed at sub-regional aviation (typically using 9-19 passenger aircraft, with circa 100 licensed airfields around the UK) with an objective to enable a commercially viable, innovative and eco-friendly network that provides a passenger experience giving door-to-door travel options, improved convenience, flexibility and travel information along with visibility of carbon footprint. The HEART programme will create a compound demonstration and vision of a 'Day-in-the-life' of a deployed network, culminating in flight trials utilising aircraft with hydrogen-electric powertrain, autonomous pilot control and support systems, as well as other key technologies that better account for the needs of travellers and support them throughout their journey. The HEART programme will address the following key areas: * Aircraft with hydrogen fuel cell and electric powertrains and on-board automation in order to significantly reduce cost of operations and help improve operational reliability. * Implementation of green hydrogen infrastructure (production storage and refuelling) with consideration of transport and distribution solutions, along with developing a skilled workforce to operate and maintain the infrastructure and aircraft. * Use of aircraft control automation, including pilot assistance pilot during high workload; enabling higher operational safety and scalability. * Use of hybrid connectivity solutions to assist in datalink operation, mission critical communication, as well as providing in-cabin passenger services. * Integration of the HEART network with other transportation modes through mobility-as-a-services solutions to enable fast transfers across new and legacy transport modes. Dynamic in-journey support to simplify and smooth the travel experience. * Use of autonomous ground systems to 'guide' aircraft, automate baggage and cargo loading/unloading and handle refuelling operations, increasing operational safety, reducing operating costs and enabling scale-up of operations. * New, low-cost, modular and scalable airport terminal technology concepts brought to life through simulation, modelling and technical demonstrations to demonstrate enhanced passenger experience. * Understanding and addressing societal concerns such as safety of hydrogen-electric powertrains, dependence on new levels of automation and technologies. These facets of demonstration, simulation and analysis will be brought together in a compound narrative called the 'HEART Mosaic' to show the full 'Day in the Life' picture of the network operation, which will be published through various media and engagement methods to show the journey HEART has taken, and how it will develop to serve people in the future.

The consortium's vision for _HEART_ (**_H_**_ydrogen**-**_ **_E_**lectric and **_A_**utomated **_R_**egional **_T_**ransportation) is to develop a sub-regional air transportation network that is _zero carbon_, _affordable_, _scalable_ and _safer_ and with a targeted entry into service in 2025\. Consortium partners include: Blue Bear, ZeroAvia, Loganair, HIAL, Britten-Norman, Inmarsat, Protium, Weston Williamson + Partners, Fleet-on-demand and Edinburgh Napier University. Project HEART is aimed at sub-regional aviation (9-19 PAX aircraft, <500NM). Today's operations are economically uncompetitive due to the high operating costs of the aircraft relative to the number of seats and labour-intensive ground operations amongst other factors. By introducing state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, the consortium will unlock a sub-regional air travel market that will avoid major congested airports and instead utilise the \>100 licensed airfields around the UK. Passengers can then experience shorter door-to-door travel times, cheaper ticket prices, and a zero-carbon travel option. The key enablers that the HEART consortium will develop during the Future Flight Challenge to unlock this market are: * Novel aircraft with hydrogen fuel cell powertrains and on-board automation (to reduce pilot workload and enable remote support) that will significantly reduce marginal cost of operations. * Green hydrogen infrastructure (production, storage, handling and refuelling) to support and sustain full scale operations together with a skilled workforce to operate and maintain this infrastructure and aircraft. * Single (not two) pilot operations through use of next generation digital towers and remote co-piloting stations to assist pilots during high workload situations which, in turn, enable higher operational safety and scalability within a high-volume network. * Use of a hybrid connectivity solution which combines high bandwidth terrestrial networks (3G/5G) with high-reliability satellite communications to support remote co-piloting and mission critical communication in the cockpit, as well as additional revenue streams from in-cabin use. * Use of autonomous ground robots to 'guide' aircraft, automate baggage loading/unloading and handle refuelling operations. This will increase operational safety, reduce operating costs and enable scale-up of operations. * Radical new aircraft terminal designs that are low-cost, modular and scalable. These terminals will ensure quick intermodal transfers for passengers and automated infrastructure. * Integration of the HEART network with other transportation modes through mobility-as-a-services solutions to enable fast intermodal transfers, door-to-door journeys and 'just-in-time' operator models. Other modes to include existing first/last mile options such as buses and taxis and future solutions such as eVTOLs. * Addressing social acceptance issues such as 'perceived safety of hydrogen powertrains', 'remote co-pilot operations' and understanding the various levers that will affect public perception of these technologies. In Phase 2, the consortium will undertake various proof-of-concept demonstrations to work towards a certifiable commercial demonstration at the end of Phase 3\. The two phases of the Future Flight Challenge project will fast track market readiness by 2025 and full deployment in the UK between 2025 and 2030\.

**Project NAPKIN - New Aviation, Propulsion, Knowledge and Innovation Network** **NAPKIN is** **developing** **the blueprint for a UK sustainable aviation system supporting the UK's leadership** **position in aviation innovation and action on climate change and directly addressing its need for rapid, affordable** **and** **sustainable regional connectivity.** Our high quality UK consortium draws on existing knowledge and expertise to deliver this timely project which will help to pave the way for low and zero carbon domestic and short haul aviation this decade. Moving towards a sustainable aviation system requires transformative change and coordinated action. NAPKIN uses a '5As' model of the aviation ecosystem - integrating Air passengers, Airports, Aircraft, Airspace, and Airlines - building a comprehensive picture of the conditions that will enable the transition to regional electric and sustainable aviation and the landscape of future products, services and infrastructure. Cranfield Aerospace (via project Fresson), GKN and Rolls-Royce (via Fresson, Efan-X, Accel etc) have developed electric aircraft conceptual designs. Cranfield University, University College London and the University of Southampton bring deep expertise and sophisticated modelling, complemented with input from Deloitte. Heathrow Airport, Highland and Island Airports and London City Airport bring the different contexts and ground operational experience to demonstrate viability across the UK. An airline focus group brings the project to life guiding the project with a clear pathway to a commercial reality. A model of affordable domestic sustainable aviation has the potential to solve carbon, connectivity and commercial challenges together. We believe that regional and sub-regional sustainable flight presents the necessary an economic and environmental opportunity the UK must grasp with urgency.

This Orkney Island -based, innovative project will create the UK's first low-carbon aviation test environment, based at a licenced island airport with all year round scheduled air service operations to UK, and regular off-shore oil and gas helicopter traffic. The Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) will be a UK first and, should one or more of the new aviation technologies be adopted for island use, it will also help improve the quality of life of the communities it serves (through job creation, improved access to education and healthcare, etc.). The SATE will place the UK at the vanguard of the adoption of next-generation aircraft, and spearheading aviation's response to climate change. The continued demand for aviation services (air passenger numbers on the 11 HIAL airport network have increased by 33% in the last 10 years) , is at odds with the effects of an international climate emergency. We need to rapidly decarbonise the aviation sector to reconcile these competing imperatives and to reduce the carbon footprint of air travellers. Indeed, if aviation is to be used as a means to improve the quality of life and maintain or grow the population of remote and rural communities, then the options for the appropriate sustainable aviation technologies must be explored. The options include the following: * aircraft (with electric, hydrogen, or synthetic fuel replacing conventional fossil fuels), * changes to the physical airport infrastructure to support the adopted technologies, and transport to the airport * green energy supply for terminal buildings and ground operations, * necessary digital networks for resilient communication between airport and aircraft (particularly UAVs). Kirkwall Airport is one of an 11-airport, regional airport group, operated by **HIAL** - who are project lead -, and is particularly suited as a test environment location due to the variety of routes it offers which include: short hops to the inter- islands airfields, eg Westray - best known for being one of the two airports joined by the shortest scheduled flight in the world -, and operated by **Orkney Island Council.** In addition there are regular air services to Aberdeen, Edinburgh & Glasgow, with a summer service to Norway. The project team includes technology developers who will be test ready during the 18 months of this project phase: **Ampaire**, **ZeroAvia**, **Windracers**, **Flarebright** and **Loganair**. Orkney provides options to fly over water, in a challenging environment & climate, for real-world application testing of the technologies. Decarbonisation of the airport, as part of this project, is important to the Orkney community, which is an exemplar early-adopter for other low-carbon technology, and are leaders in decarbonisation, lead by one of the SATE project members, Orkney-based **EMEC**. This test environment offers a number of integrated energy-system opportunities providing significant wider impacts for potential adoption at other regional airports, which is a focus of team member **HITRANS**. The supply chain and future business opportunity interests are represented by Caithness-based battery manufacturers - **Denchi Group** and Orkney-based **Cloudnet ,**specialists in providing digital services for poorly served rural communities. The people skills necessary to support the development, testing and maintenance of the new technologies are of interest to project team members - **Air Training Services** and the **UHI**. If successful, this project should stimulate inward investment and local supply chain business opportunities in this remote part of the UK, a key responsibility for **Highlands & Islands Enterprise.** Local community acceptance of new aircraft technology, especially on lifeline services, and the potential impact on their local economy and wellbeing will also be measured, and a local community engagement programme is key to this projects success.