But Institution of Mechanical Engineers Warns Work Is Needed

News about the future of aerospace has been somewhat dominated lately by the rapid growth of aviation in China and anticipation of commercial space providers in the US, but other nations are also counting on the industry to provide jobs and economic growth.

The UK's Institution of Mechanical Engineers, or IMechE for short, has issued a report titled "Aero 2075" which anticipates aircraft with blended-wing designs to improve efficiency and reduce noise, the return of supersonic airliners, hypersonic scramjets which could carry passengers at five times the speed of sound, and even the flying of airliners in a "V" formation to take advantage of the aerodynamic secrets of the birds, all by the end of the current century.

The report notes that the aerospace sector generated £29 billion in sales in 2010 and employs about 100,000 people throughout the country, and that the British government eyes aerospace as an important component of balancing the nation's economy to avoid over-reliance on the financial and services sectors.

But IMechE notes that the UK aerospace market, currently number two in the world behind the US, will not stay there for long without work. "Research and development investment is at an historic low and core capabilities, key facilities and infrastructure are all slowly eroding," warns the report. "If the UK does not create an economic vision for the future, we may well see one of our most important industries fall into decline – like so many other sectors of British manufacturing over the past two decades."

IMechE also anticipates political obstacles. "The growth of global air travel will be matched by increasing levels of legislation on emissions and noise, and a desire to reduce fuel consumption while carrying ever more people by aeroplane."

Specific suggestions in the report include setting out a long-term strategic vision for investing in the UK’s aerospace sector, establishment of a UK Advanced Technologies Aerospace Research Centre, measures to to ensure UK PLC is an attractive investment location, and restoration of research and development funding to pre-recession levels.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was originally founded in 1847 and is based in London. The report is available as a free download, in two parts, using the FMI link below.

FMI: www.imeche.org/Aero-2075?WT.mc_id=HP_110633