From climate concerns to new regulations, technological improvements to operating-cost pressures, there is significant change happening in the aviation industry. Shauna Higgins, Vice President of Engineering and Green Economy at IDA Ireland, examines Ireland’s role in the aviation space and how the country is rising to meet the challenges of today.

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Ireland has been shaping the future of global aviation ever since the world’s first non-stop transatlantic flight landed on the island in 1919.

Ever since that pioneering first, the country’s aviation innovation has been accelerated. In 2019, Ireland saw the launch of the world’s first space- based ADS‑B global air traffic surveillance system, managed by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).

Known as the Aireon ALERT, it is the aviation industry’s first and only free global emergency aircraft location service, developed to assist rescue agencies, air traffic control providers and airlines.

This innovation has continued into 2023 with Ireland playing a role in the new aviation technologies in advanced air mobility (AAM) that are revolutionising the sector. A prime example of this can be seen at Shannon Airport, a longstanding important EU base for a long list of prominent global support and MRO companies.

Many elements of the aerospace life cycle are present at Shannon including airframe maintenance, engine maintenance and repair, parts manufacture and design, technical recording and legal, and teardown and part-out (the process of disassembling and removing aircraft parts for disposal or recycling).

Each element is essential for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drones to become fully developed – which are key components of the AAM evolution.

And due to the on-site space available at Shannon, the airport also has aircraft testbeds, which are vital for the safe development process of both manned and unmanned devices and vehicles.

Also located near the airport is the Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI): a facility that specialises in research and innovation for both air (electric vertical take-off landing, unmanned traffic management, unmanned drones) and ground (autonomous driving, micro-mobility, smart cities, vehicle-to-everything communications) technologies.

It supports a wide range of groups, from government entities and start-ups, through to multinational corporations and individual researchers. FMCIs aim is to understand, trial and establish societally life-changing solutions on a global scale as well as locally in Shannon.

Expansion of Ireland’s UAV market

However, the industry needs to ensure that such an original and vigorous ecosystem contains supportive geographical, governmental and infrastructural components for this revolution to continue to evolve.

Innovation is the key. In this respect, and of specific interest to innovators and investors, is the first fully certified for flight eVOTL aircraft. According to the FMCI, the UAV sector is set to expand with a market valuation of US$133.5B by 2026.

Alongside this expansion comes ‘EALU-AER’ , an EU-based research project focused on cultivating, expanding and optimising the unmanned flight ecosystem. The project includes European and Irish partners including Dublin-based Avtrain, Collins Aerospace, the Irish Aviation Authority, Shannon Group and Italy’s Deepblue.

Under the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking, the project has received funding aimed at making Europe’s airspace the most efficient and environmentally friendly sky to fly in the world through its research and innovation.

Included within the UAV sector’s expansion are drones, which are set to become a large component of the UAV market. The BVLOS market is set to be worth US$34 billion by 2029: a direct result of the wide range of applications on offer, from rescue missions, firefighting and search, construction, mining, aerial surveying and mapping, infrastructure inspection and package delivery.

Regulation and finance

But it’s not just innovation that allows aviation to flourish. It’s the regulatory infrastructure that supports such advances. And in this respect, Ireland is fortunate to be regulated by a world leader: the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). This is the European Union Safety Agency (EASA) designate agency for Ireland, with strong links with counterparts in other jurisdictions.

Ireland has long been considered a global centre for aviation leasing and finance. More than 50 aircraft leasing companies are based in Ireland, including 14 of the world’s 15 lessors.

Over 60 per cent of all leased aircraft worldwide are managed by Irish-based leasing companies. A dominance that results in, an Irish-leased aircraft taking off from an airport somewhere in the world every two seconds.

An extensive history of a skilled workforce

Yet Ireland’s aviation sector remains committed to growth. And that means being able to source and hire a highly experienced and skilled workforce. Fortunately, Ireland has a large talent pool, not least for the critical finance and legal roles that underpin the Irish aviation industry.

Yet this talent pool also encompasses roles such as aircraft maintenance and other highly qualified jobs including — pilots, engineers, and technicians who are all cultural components in the supply chain. This also applies to Ireland’s highly respected educational system, which is business-focused and with strong industry inputs.

It is globally recognised for its concentration on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects – with the country having introduced Europe’s first master’s degree in Aviation Finance in 2016.

Clear skies ahead?

With such significant technological advancements in the aviation space, there will be heightened demands and expectations with respect to aircraft design certification and regulations, with operational issues being impacted the most.

Players across the industry are contending with the fast-paced nature of these changes and Companies must tread carefully to not only thrive but also keep pace with the evolving industry – and Ireland, one of Europe’s leading innovators in aviation, is committed to helping the aviation industry towards the future it deserves, one of innovation, sustainability, and growth.