As it prepares for a special seminar on "Fuelling Aviation with Green Technology" from 9-10 September, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced today that it has officially concluded an agreement to serve as an Institutional and Aeronautical Partner for the Solar Impulse 2015 around-the-world flight.
ICAO"™s partnership with Solar Impulse is in line with its current Strategic Objective to reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions from international civil aviation activity using a multi-faceted approach. It also supports Article 44 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which stipulates in part that ICAO should develop air navigation techniques and encourage the arts of aircraft design and operation for peaceful purposes.
"Flying an experimental airplane in so many countries will not only be very difficult, but also something that has never been done in the past," remarked Solar Impulse Co-founder, CEO and Pilot, André Borschberg. "This is an extraordinary challenge and ICAO"™s support will be instrumental in helping us obtain the over-flight authorizations, take-off and landing permits and other certifications which may be needed from its Member States."
The Solar Impulse around-the-world series of solar-powered flights are set to take place over a five month period from March to July, 2015. A host city is currently being identified in the Gulf region which will serve as the departing and final landing destination. In order to effectuate pilot transfers, stopovers during its Northern Hemisphere flight will be scheduled in India, Myanmar, China, the United States and either Southern Europe or Northern Africa.
"Innovative green technologies, such as those now being employed by the Solar Impulse project, play a key role in the basket of environmental protection measures that our Organization strongly encourages," remarked ICAO Council President, Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu. "They are just one example of how our sector can sustainably realize both its ambitious emissions targets, and the very positive socio-economic benefits which aviation fosters, everywhere that aircraft can fly."
"Solar Impulse is very happy to count ICAO amongst our impressive list of Institutional and Aeronautical Partners, together with IATA, ACI, Eurocontrol and many other prominent companies and agencies," remarked Bertrand Piccard, Initiator, Chairman and Pilot of the Solar Impulse project. "As the United Nations specialized agency for international civil aviation, and a strong supporter of innovation driving progress on aviation emissions reduction, we look forward to the continued assistance and support of ICAO with our 2015 objectives."
