ASL Aviation Holdings developed the ASL CargoVision Forum together with leading new technology companies. Our objective is to help raise awareness of ASL and the Forum members’ position on both innovative new technologies and sustainability for air cargo operations.
Sustainable aviation is the future. Environmental sustainability is more important now than ever. Having been agile in dealing with unprecedented challenges, air cargo is now playing a central role in delivering key, innovative technological contributions to environmentally sustainable aviation progress.
ASL CargoVision is committed to driving the discussion and supporting actions within the aviation industry to ensure that environmentally sustainable air cargo is firmly on the global aviation agenda.
ASL is committed to ‘Destination 2050’, the European aviation industry’s roadmap to lower carbon emissions by 2030 and to net-zero emissions by 2050. ASL will also work with the European Commission of the ‘Fit for 55’ regulatory proposals as members of the European Regions Airline Association, (ERA).
In February 2022, ASL Aviation Holdings also formally endorsed the ‘Toulouse Declaration’ which followed an aviation summit hosted by the French Presidency of the European Union. This declaration was widely endorsed by airline and airport representative associations and further commits the aviation industry to meeting carbon emissions reduction targets by 2030 and to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
ASL CargoVision forum members recognise and embrace the challenge to reduce and eliminate carbon emissions through innovative and environmentally sustainable technologies.
ASL Aviation Holdings announced partnership agreements with CargoVision Forum member, ZeroAvia. ASL will provide ATR-72 aircraft to the company for their hydrogen programme development.
ASL and CargoVision member, Reliable Robotics announced that ASL has placed a deposit-backed order for 30 units of the Reliable autonomous flight system for the Cessna 208B Caravan. The deal secures early delivery slots and enables ASL to be a leader in the adoption of safety and efficiency enhancing automation.
July 2024 - ZeroAvia, the leading innovator in hydrogen-electric zero emission powertrains, Zero Avia announced that ASL Aviation Holdings has signed a conditional purchase agreement for up to 20 hydrogen-electric engines for retrofit into its operated fleet of ATR regional turboprop aircraft – creating some of the world’s first zero-emission freight aircraft of this scale.
The firm order of 10 engines, with a further option for up to another 10 and an agreement related to retrofit services, builds on an earlier MOU between the two companies announced in November 2021.
May 2024 - Reliable Robotics, a leader in aircraft automation systems, and ASL announced announced that ASL has placed a deposit-backed order for 30 units of the Reliable autonomous flight system for the Cessna 208B Caravan. The deal secures early delivery slots and enables ASL to be a leader in the adoption of safety and efficiency enhancing automation. ASL and Reliable have been working together since 2022 to bring advanced automation and remote piloting into ASL’s operations and have a shared goal of expanding the programme to include additional aircraft types in the next 12 months.
Given the enormity of the task, time is short if aviation is to reach its emissions targets by 2030 and 2050. It is therefore essential that the foundations are laid between now and 2030 to realise net zero CO2 emissions in 2050 and reduce the reliance on economic measures.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are likely to play a big part in the near-term sustainability programmes of airlines operating medium to large passenger and cargo aircraft.
Aircraft powered by electric engines and aircraft powered by hydrogen are now quite advanced in the development process. These next generation aircraft are opening new possibilities for cargo operations serving the express parcel, postal and online retail markets. This would be a new market and a new area of aviation, but it will also be the foundation on which the industry will build the solutions that will bring us to Destination 2050.
ASL and the other members of the CargoVision Forum will promote these new technologies as they bring environmental sustainability to the aviation industry, and particularly to cargo operations.
